Abstract
One strategy that has gained much attention in the last decades is the understanding and further mimicking of structures and behaviours found in nature, as inspiration to develop materials with additional functionalities. This review presents recent advances in stimuli-responsive gels with emphasis on functional hydrogels and microgels. The first part of the review highlights the high impact of stimuli-responsive hydrogels in materials science. From macro to micro scale, the review also collects the most recent studies on the preparation of hybrid polymeric microgels composed of a nanoparticle (able to respond to external stimuli), encapsulated or grown into a stimuli-responsive matrix (microgel). This combination gave rise to interesting multi-responsive functional microgels and paved a new path for the preparation of multi-stimuli “smart” systems. Finally, special attention is focused on a new generation of functional stimuli-responsive polymer hydrogels able to self-shape (shape-memory) and/or self-repair. This last functionality could be considered as the closing loop for smart polymeric gels.
Highlights
Gels have pervaded our everyday life in a variety of forms
Polymeric microgels are in an intermediate state between the branched polymers and macroscopic networks, with a molecular weight (Mw) comparable to that of a linear high Mw polymer, with a structure resembling that of a macroscopic network
Other authors used gold nanorods (AuNR) located at the surface of the microgel instead of spherical nanoparticles incorporated into PNIPAAm microgels (Figure 5b)
Summary
Gels have pervaded our everyday life in a variety of forms. The wet soft solids that we encounter in the form of commercial products such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, hair gel and other cosmetics, as well as contact lenses and gel pens, etc., are all gels derived from polymeric compounds. Polymer gels are classified as chemical and physical gels, makes them very unique systems. Polymer gels are classified as chemical and physical gels, depending theunique nature of crosslinks Classified as chemical and physical gels, depending depending on the nature of crosslinks (Figure 1) [2]. Gels have a special place in the field to of several stimuli In this regard, polymer gels have a special place in the field of stimuli responsive systems, scientific subjects. We focus attention on recent advances found within the field of stimuli responsive functional polymeric gels. The last part of this review aims to highlight the new generation of functional stimuli-responsive polymer hydrogels—self-shape (shape memory) or self-healing hydrogels, as a step-forward in the field of “smart” materials
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
