Synthesis and gel formation of hyperbranched supramolecular polymer by vine-twining polymerization using branched primer–guest conjugate

In this article, we report the synthesis of a hyperbranched supramolecular polymer composed of continuum of amylose-poly( l -lactide) (PLLA) inclusion complexes by phosphorylase-catalyzed enzymatic polymerization using a branched maltoheptaose-PLLA conjugate according vine-twining polymerization manner. The X-ray diffraction and 1H NMR measurements indicated the presence of the inclusion complex structure in the product. The GPC peak of the amylose segment, which was obtained by alkaline hydrolysis of the vine-twining polymerization product, shifted to the lower molecular weight region, compared with that of the product, supporting the structure of the supramolecular polymer. A hydrogel of the supramolecular polymer was obtained through the formation of an ion gel with an ionic liquid. Furthermore, a cryogel with porous morphology was produced by lyophilization of the hydrogel.