Abstract
Supramolecular hydrogels are 3D, elastic, water-swelled materials that are held together by reversible, non-covalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic, ionic, host–guest interactions, and metal–ligand coordination. These interactions determine the hydrogels’ unique properties: mechanical strength; stretchability; injectability; ability to self-heal; shear-thinning; and sensitivity to stimuli, e.g., pH, temperature, the presence of ions, and other chemical substances. For this reason, supramolecular hydrogels have attracted considerable attention as carriers for active substance delivery systems. In this paper, we focused on the various types of non-covalent interactions. The hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic, ionic, coordination, and host–guest interactions between hydrogel components have been described. We also provided an overview of the recent studies on supramolecular hydrogel applications, such as cancer therapy, anti-inflammatory gels, antimicrobial activity, controlled gene drug delivery, and tissue engineering.
Highlights
Hydrogels are a wide group of amazing materials that can increase in size due to their ability to absorb a large volume of water or other fluids, while maintaining integrity
This study proved that in vitro biological activity of self-assembled systems, such as Fmoc-FF gels, in which the gel stability is the main criterium influencing their potential applications as drug carriers, needs to be estimated with wariness to avoid the misinterpretation as false-positive results
The solution suggested by Li et al is the answer to challenges in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention, because gels based on conventional polymers have not shown good effectiveness in HIV therapy so far
Summary
Hydrogen bonds are short-range interactions between hydrogen atoms of various groups, e.g., hydroxide (-OH), amine (-NH2 ), amide (-CONH-), and electronegative atoms having a lone electron pair (e.g., N, O, F). The DNA strands can create hydrogels to the formation of the hydrogen bonds between base pairs. Hydrophilic synthetic polymers have been widely inves(PVA) can create self-healing, pH-sensitive hydrogels due to the formation of H-bonds tigated. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) can create self-healing, pH-sensitive hydrogels due to and, through hydrophobic interactions. Small molecular multiple hydrogen bonding and poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) have been extensively studied [1,9,32,33] Small mounits, such as ureidopyrimidinone (UPy), benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide, and ureas, have lecular multiple hydrogen bonding units, such as ureidopyrimidinone (UPy), benzenealso been investigated. They may be donors and acceptors of hydrogen bonds and can. Acceptors of hydrogen bonds and can mediate in the creation of H-bonds between macromolecules [1,8,29]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
