Smart Gels

Abstract

Stimuli‐responsive gels are known as smart gels. Such gels respond adaptively to a variety of external stimulation. Different classes of smart gels, according to the name of the stimulus, are thermoresponsive, pH‐responsive, photoresponsive, electroresponsive, magnetoresponsive gels, chemically activated gels, and others. Such smart gel materials are discussed in this article along with their synthesis, characterization, properties, and various applications such as drug delivery systems, thermoresponsive cell culture dishes, microfluidic gel photovoltaics, etc. The advantages and disadvantages of electroactive gels have been discussed for their application as actuators. Microporous and superporous gels, microgels/nanogels, shape‐memory and self‐healing gels, and fullerene (C 60 )‐containing nanostructured smart polymers/gels are also depicted in this article. The state‐of‐the‐art research and development of smart gels along with the opportunities and challenges of this emerging field of research are highlighted in this article.

Structural and biological properties of thermosensitive chitosan–graphene hybrid hydrogels for sustained drug delivery applications

“…Chitosan has the ability to make thermosensitive gels using β‐glycerophosphate (β‐GP) . Thermosensitive hydrogels are a group of smart gels which their properties, applications and challenges have been wildly discussed in numerous articles . Chitosan and β‐GP form an injectable in‐situ gel at a temperature close to body temperature (37°C) .…”