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Cross-Linking, Modular Design and Self-assembly in Hydrogels

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Nano Hydrogels

Part of the book series: Gels Horizons: From Science to Smart Materials ((GHFSSM))

Abstract

Gels can be recognised as a stiff but flexible, soft everyday material. They survive the “inversion test”, it is solid-like rheology that defies the character of the gel. Low-molecular-weight gels can be classified into organogels and hydrogels based on its constitution. All these gels have wide range of applications in the fields of biomedical engineering and pharmaceutical formulation. Hydrogels are highly tuneable viscoelastic hydrophilic polymers with 3D networks of cross-linking. Despite being mostly liquid, they have solid-like rheology due to its cross-linking. They are highly water-swellable polymer networks with water imbibing properties which gives them the flexibility to mimic natural tissues. The cross-linking is stabilised via interactions including Van der Waals, covalent bonding and hydrogen bonding. Hydrogels are formed by gelators of low molecular weight and exhibit colloidal properties. Stimuli-responsive nature of supramolecular gels can be utilised in targeted drug delivery systems. Natural polymeric hydrogels have a trending application in modern medicine due to its profound implication in sensing, targeted drug delivery, controlled release of a bio-active substance, etc. These gelators assemble by noncovalent interactions like π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding. The properties of hydrogels can be tuned by changing the external stimuli. These polymeric materials that can show both effector and sensor functions can be used to mimic the natural system, thereby fabricating intelligent systems. This chapter gives brief introduction on gels, following the different type of light molecular weight. Guanosine-based hydrogels and its applications are also discussed further.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India

    Smitha Benny

  2. International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India

    Jiya Jose & Sabu Thomas

Authors
  1. Smitha Benny
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  2. Jiya Jose
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  3. Sabu Thomas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiya Jose .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India

    Jiya Jose

  2. Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India

    Sabu Thomas

  3. School of Aerospace, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK

    Vijay Kumar Thakur

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Benny, S., Jose, J., Thomas, S. (2021). Cross-Linking, Modular Design and Self-assembly in Hydrogels. In: Jose, J., Thomas, S., Thakur, V.K. (eds) Nano Hydrogels. Gels Horizons: From Science to Smart Materials. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7138-1_8

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