Mechanically Robust Shape‐Memory Organohydrogels Based on Silk Fibroin with Organogel Microinclusions of Various Sizes

Organohydrogels (OHGs) are soft materials with antagonistic hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains that have great interest for many different applications. This study presents the preparation of mechanically strong OHGs shape-memory function by incorporating semicrystalline organo-microgels within pores silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds. In first step, SF cryogels various pore diameters between 26 ± 8 17 4 µm synthesized cryogelation aqueous solutions at concentrations 5 20 w/v%. second scaffolds filled an organogel precursor solution containing n-octadecyl acrylate (C18A), acrylic acid, N,N'-methylene(bis)acrylamide, initiator. Once free-radical polymerization took place inside pores, sizes obtained. The incorporation component in generates crystalline areas due to side-by-side packed C18 side chains. OHGs' melting temperature crystallinity level can be varied from 42 54 °C 2 16%, respectively. stiffness increases 5.9 0.5 18 1 MPa increasing concentration w/v%, which is attributed decreasing size thickness walls.