Tailoring Alginate Hydrogels via Precoordinated Lanthanide Complexes as Dynamic Cross-Linkers

Key Points

• This research aims to explore how precoordinated lanthanide complexes can be used to customize alginate hydrogel properties.
• Hydrogels were formed by spontaneous cross-linking due to electrostatic interactions.
• Comparative analysis of Alg-Sm, Alg-Eu, and Alg-Tb hydrogels based on gelation time, network density, and mechanical strength.
• Evaluation of Alg-Eu as a luminescent sensor for copper ions.
• Alg-Sm exhibited the shortest gelation time and superior mechanical strength compared to Alg-Eu and Alg-Tb.
• The Alg-Sm hydrogel's denser network arises from greater electrostatic cross-linking due to the larger Sm complex.
• Alg-Eu shows potential as a luminescent sensor for detecting copper ions.

Abstract