Chemically Triggered Changes in Mechanical Properties of Responsive Liquid Crystal Polymer Networks with Immobilized Urease

Abstract

Liquid crystal polymer networks (LCNs) are stimuli-responsive materials that can be programmed to realize spatial variation in mechanical response and undergo shape transformation. Herein, we report a process to introduce chemical specificity to the stimuli response of LCNs by integrating enzymes as molecular triggers. Specifically, the enzyme urease was immobilized in LCN films via acyl fluoride conjugation chemistry. Activity assays and confocal fluorescence imaging confirmed retention of urease activity after immobilization as well as widespread distribution of enzyme on the film. The addition of urea triggered a response in the LCN whereby newly generated ammonia reacted with free acyl fluorides to form benzamide moieties. These moieties were capable of dimerizing through the formation of supramolecular hydrogen bonds, which was reflected in a 4-fold increase in Young's modulus. Through dynamic mechanical analysis and calorimetry, we further confirmed that the degree of hydrogen bonding in the LCNs could be judiciously designed to fine-tune the mechanical properties and glass transition temperature. These findings demonstrate the untapped potential of biochemical mechanisms as molecular triggers in LCNs and open the door to the use of nucleophilic chemistries in modulating the mechanical properties of LCNs.