Polymer hydrogels are physically or chemically cross-linked particles with a network structure that is swollen in a suitable solvent. Due to their soft, rubbery, and high swelling capacity in aqueous media these hydrogels can undergo conformational changes in response to variations in environmental conditions, and therefore these materials are considered as “smart or intelligent materials”. Synthetic monodisperse stimuli-responsive hydrogels in the macro, micro, and nano size range have potential applications in numerous fields, including drug delivery, biosensing, tissue engineering, chemical separations, water treatment, energy storage devices, and catalysis, etc. The wide range of applications of hydrogels arises from their stimuli-responsive nature, that is, their ability to undergo reversible volume phase transitions in response to environmental stimuli such as temperature, pH, glucose concentration, and ionic strength.
Although stimuli-responsive polymer hydrogels have been widely investigated by various scientists they have found limited practical applications. The design of hydrogels for multipurpose is still a challenging task for researchers. So, further research effort is needed to optimize the size, composition, and structures of the hydrogels to make them according to desirable demands. In this Research Topic, our main goal is to consider the papers from well repute scientists who have performed and solved the existing real-world problems by applying polymer hydrogels in the bio-medical field. Novel hydrogel systems prepared for robotic science, advanced drug delivery, artificial organs development, wound dressing, and sensors to human motion will give full consideration.
• Polymer hydrogels for advanced robotic technology.
• The role of hydrogels in the development of artificial organs
• Hydrogels for advanced drug delivery systems
• Hydrogel sensors based on living movements etc.
Polymer hydrogels are physically or chemically cross-linked particles with a network structure that is swollen in a suitable solvent. Due to their soft, rubbery, and high swelling capacity in aqueous media these hydrogels can undergo conformational changes in response to variations in environmental conditions, and therefore these materials are considered as “smart or intelligent materials”. Synthetic monodisperse stimuli-responsive hydrogels in the macro, micro, and nano size range have potential applications in numerous fields, including drug delivery, biosensing, tissue engineering, chemical separations, water treatment, energy storage devices, and catalysis, etc. The wide range of applications of hydrogels arises from their stimuli-responsive nature, that is, their ability to undergo reversible volume phase transitions in response to environmental stimuli such as temperature, pH, glucose concentration, and ionic strength.
Although stimuli-responsive polymer hydrogels have been widely investigated by various scientists they have found limited practical applications. The design of hydrogels for multipurpose is still a challenging task for researchers. So, further research effort is needed to optimize the size, composition, and structures of the hydrogels to make them according to desirable demands. In this Research Topic, our main goal is to consider the papers from well repute scientists who have performed and solved the existing real-world problems by applying polymer hydrogels in the bio-medical field. Novel hydrogel systems prepared for robotic science, advanced drug delivery, artificial organs development, wound dressing, and sensors to human motion will give full consideration.
• Polymer hydrogels for advanced robotic technology.
• The role of hydrogels in the development of artificial organs
• Hydrogels for advanced drug delivery systems
• Hydrogel sensors based on living movements etc.