“Janus-Featured” Hydrogel with Antifouling and Bacteria Releasing Properties

“Janus-featured” hydrogels with different structure and function for each layer can be particularly important in diverse application. However, very few research has been conducted on multifunctional “Janus featured” hydrogel, and significant challenge for simple, rapid and efficient fabrication of such hydrogels remains. Herein, “Janus featured” polyHEAA (poly(N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide)) hydrogel loaded with modified silica nanoparticle was fabricated by a supergravity method. Silica nanoparticles grafted with polyDVBAPS (poly(3-(dimethyl(4-vinylbenzyl) ammonio) propyl sulfonate)) were first prepared and then introduced into progel of polyHEAA hydrogel. During the formation of the hydrogel, a supergravity resulted from centrifugation was applied, from which silica nanoparticles moved to one side of the hydrogel, forming “Janus-featured” hydrogels, i.e. a pristine polyHEAA layer and a composite layer. These two layers showed different properties, where the prinstine polyHEAA layer showed excellent antifoul...