Smart hydrogels, also known as stimuli-responsive hydrogels, exhibit dramatic changes in their swelling behavior, sol-gel transition, network structure, permeability, or mechanical strength in response to changes in various external stimuli such as pH, light, temperature, electric and magnetic fields. In comparison, conventional hydrogels undergo only the swelling-deswelling process depending on the surrounding environment and availability of water. Smart hydrogels are drawing the attention of researchers because of their wide range of applications, for instance, in designing biomedical, industrial, agricultural, electrical, healthcare, and hygienic products. The main advantages of smart hydrogels include:
- The high water content of smart hydrogels is similar to the natural tissue environment.
- In comparison to traditional hydrogels, smart hydrogels possess many unique features such as controllable sol-gel transition, shape memory, and self-healing.
Classification
Smart hydrogels can be classified as physical, chemical, biological, and dual-responsive hydrogels.
Physical responsive hydrogels:
Physical responses mainly include temperature, electric and magnetic fields, and mechanical stress, which alter molecular interactions at critical starting points.
Chemical responsive hydrogels:
Chemical responses mainly include pH, ionic factors and chemical agents, which change the interactions between polymer chains or polymer chains and solvents at the molecular level.
Biological responsive hydrogels:
Biological responses mainly include antigen, enzyme, and other biochemical agents.
Dual-response hydrogels:
Dual-response hydrogels are a class of hydrogels that combine two response mechanisms into a polymer system.
Applications
Smart hydrogels have many applications, divided into four broad areas.
Biosensors (e.g., glucose sensors).
Controlled drug delivery (e.g., loading and release of bioactive molecules).
Biomedical applications (e.g., shape memory implantable devices, smart valves, coating in microfluidics, and bioseparation).
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (e.g., injectable systems for the delivery of cells and growth factors).
Our Products
Alfa Chemistry is a leading global supplier of hydrogels. Our experienced scientists focus on the production and performance improvement of various smart hydrogels. Our products include but are not limited to the following. Please contact us to customize the smart hydrogels you need, and we will provide you with high quality products according to your detailed requirements.
- Thermo-responsive hydrogels (TRHs)
- Electrically conductive hydrogels (ECHs)
- Sound-responsive hydrogels (SORHs)
- pH-responsive hydrogels (pHRHs)
- Glucose-responsive hydrogels (GRHs)
- Enzyme-responsive hydrogels (EZRHs)
- Light-responsive hydrogels (LRHs)
- Magnetically responsive hydrogels (MRHs)
- Pressure-responsive hydrogels (PRHs)
- Redox-responsive hydrogels (RRHs)
- CO2-responsive hydrogels (CO2RHs)
- Antigen-responsive hydrogels (ARHs)
Please kindly note that our products and services are for research use only.
