A phenylboronic-disulfide hybrid crosslinker for constructing multi-stimuli-responsive and self-healing hydrogels from diverse polysaccharides

This study introduces a novel dynamic crosslinker, DTDP-PBA, as a universal platform for fabricating intelligent hydrogels from diverse polysaccharides. Through synergistic phenylboronic ester and disulfide bonds, the crosslinker forms stable gels with five structurally distinct biopolymers – xanthan gum, konjac glucomannan, sodium alginate, guar gum, and cationic starch – covering anionic, neutral, and cationic charge types. The resulting hydrogels exhibit quadruple responsiveness to pH, ROS, glucose, and reducing conditions, enabling programmable degradation and release, along with self-healing and favorable mechanical resilience. In vitro biocompatibility assays (cytotoxicity, live/dead staining, hemolysis, protein adsorption, and cell scratch) confirm no obvious cytotoxicity and promotion of cell migration. DTDP-PBA thus represents a versatile, scalable crosslinking platform for biomedical applications including drug delivery, wound management, and tissue engineering.