Development of Novel Double Network Polypeptide-Based Hydrogels with Enhanced Mechanical Properties

This chapter introduces the concept of physical and covalent hydrogels derived from both natural and synthetic starting materials. In addition the idea of double network hydrogels as a methodology to modulate the mechanical strength of hydrogel networks is presented and discussed.

In the latter half of this chapter relevant polypeptide-based hydrogels are discussed. Furthermore, synthetic approaches utilised to achieve such materials; namely N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) ring-opening polymerisation

(ROP) of functional NCA monomers and post-polymerisation crosslinking are introduced.