Multipurpose smart hydrogel systems

Bio-fabrication and physiological self-release of tissue equivalents using smart peptide amphiphile templates

“…Some of the most innovative applications are based on hydrogel biomaterials capable of promoting cell adhesion, proliferation, and/or differentiation, and subsequently induce cell detachment by changing their characteristics in response to external physical (temperature, magnetic field), chemical (ionic strength, pH), or biological (anabolic or catabolic) stimuli (reviewed in [2][3][4]). For example, thermo-responsive polymers with different chemistries have been successfully used to create contiguous intact constructs using numerous cell types, including corneal [5], skin [6], oral [7], and nasal epithelial cells [8], cardiomyocytes [9], muscle myoblasts [10], and mesenchymal stem cells [11].…”

Biomedical Devices Based on Smart Polymers

“…Stimuli-responsive polymers significantly change their properties such as shape, mechanical properties, phase separation, surface, permeability, optical properties, and electrical properties upon small variation of environmental conditions such as temperature, electric fi eld, pH, light, magnetic fi eld, electrical fi eld, sonic fi eld, solvent, ions, enzymes, and glucose [15][16][17][18]. Many physical and chemical stimuli can be applied to induce different responses of smart hydrogel systems; physical stimuli include temperature, pressure, light, electric, magnetic, and sound fi elds, chemical or biochemical stimuli comprise pH, ionic strength, ions or specifi c molecular recognition events [19]. Interest in stimuli-responsive polymers has persisted over many decades, and a great deal of work has been dedicated to devising examples of environmentally sensitive macromolecules that can be crafted into new smart materials [20].…”

Polymers and its applications in agriculture

“…A conventional SAP will not have altered swelling equilibrium under environmental stimulus, for example, changes in pH, temperature, or electric field. On the other hand, Samchenko et al [61] calls a stimulus responsive SAP a smart or intelligent hydrogel, as these materials adapt their swelling equilibrium to environmental conditions. Applications based on reversible swelling/deswelling can be modulated based on chemical, biochemical or physical responses and are dependent on environmental conditions, such as high ionic conductivity, high permeability and sorption capacity.…”