Nano Hydrogels

This book introduces the reader to important aspects of the nano-hydrogels. It covers the development of hydrogels and their biology, chemistry and properties. Focus is also given to innovative characterization techniques and advances in structural design, with special emphasis on molecular structure, dynamic behavior and structural modifications of hydrogels. This book serves as a consolidated reference work for the diverse aspects of hydrogels, creating a valuable resource for students and researchers in academia and industry.

This book discusses recent advances in hydrogels, including their generation and applications and presents a compendium of fundamental concepts. It highlights the most important hydrogel materials, including physical hydrogels, chemical hydrogels, and nanohydrogels and explores the development of hydrogel-based novel materials that respond to external stimuli, such as temperature, pressure, pH, light, biochemicals or magnetism, which represent a new class of intelligent materials. With their multiple cooperative functions, hydrogel-based materials exhibit different potential applications ranging from biomedical engineering to water purification systems. This book covers key topics including superabsorbent polymer hydrogel; intelligent hydrogels for drug delivery; hydrogels from catechol-conjugated materials; nanomaterials loaded hydrogel; electrospinning of hydrogels; biopolymers-based hydrogels; injectable hydrogels; interpenetrating-polymer-network hydrogels: radiation- and sonochemical synthesis of micro/nano/macroscopic hydrogels; DNA-based hydrogels; and multifunctional applications of hydrogels. It will prove a valuable resource for researchers working in industry and academia alike.

Sustainable Nanocellulose and Nanohydrogels from Natural Sources explores the use of biopolymers in specific application areas such as electronics, energy, consumer goods, packaging materials, therapeutics, water treatment and engineering, and what makes the particular polymer to engage it in these applications. This is an important reference source for those who would like to learn more about how biopolymeric nanocomposites are used in sustainability and environmental protection. Biopolymers, including plant and sea-based polymers, play an important role in the formation and maintaining the stability of industrial nanocomposites; their common functions being the surface modification and protection for the highly oxidative-unstable cores, as stable base for holding multiple targets, and as a shield for the inorganic and highly toxic metals. These biopolymer-based nanocomposites are being used for applications in the electronics, automobile, construction and biomedical sectors. Explains the major design and development techniques of novel biopolymer-based nanocomposites Demonstrates how Nanocelluloses and Nanohydrogels are being used for environmental health and safety Explores how biopolymer-infused nanocellulose and nanogels are less toxic than their conventional counterparts

Sustainable Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties and Applications highlights the development of sustainable hydrogels from various perspectives and covers a range of topics, including the development and utilization of abundant and/or inexpensive biorenewable monomers to create hydrogels; the mimicry of variable properties inherent to successful commercial hydrogels; and the creation of bio-based hydrogels that are functional equivalents of fossil fuel-derived hydrogels with respect to their properties, yet are capable of benign degradation over much shorter timescales. Some of the challenges facing sustainable polymer chemistry are also discussed. Shifts the focus from theory to practice and demonstrates how the cradle-to-cradle approach support sustainability Includes discussion of life cycle assessments in the production and use of hydrogels Presents various materials for the production of hydrogels

The book provides experienced as well as young researchers with a topical view of the vibrant field of soft nanotechnology. In addition to elucidating the underlying concepts and principles that drive continued innovation, major parts of each chapter are devoted to detailed discussions of potential and already realized applications of micro- and nanogel- based materials. Examples of the diverse areas impacted by these materials are biocompatible coatings for implants, films for controlled drug release, self-healing soft materials and responsive hydrogels that react to varying pH conditions, temperature or light.

Polymer systems can be developed into a variety of functional forms to meet industrial and scientific applications. In general, they are presented in four common physical forms: (1) linear free chains in solution, (2) covalently or physically cross-linked reversible gels, (3) micro and nanoparticles, and (4) chains adsorbed or in surface-grafted form. Hydrogels are polymeric particles consisting of water-soluble polymer chains, chemically or physically connected using, in general, a cross-linking agent. These materials do not dissolve in water but may swell considerably in aqueous medium, demonstrating an extraordinary ability (>20%) to absorb water into the reticulated structure. Such features make these materials promising tools in the biomedical field, especially as controlled drug release systems. This chapter describes recent progress in the development and applications of polymeric nanostructured hydrogels, mainly in the context of biomedical devices. Additionally, it reports the significant advances in synthesis and characterization strategies of these materials. Special attention is devoted to smart or stimuli-responsive bionanogels, which mimic the property of living systems responding to environmental changes such as pH, temperature, light, pressure, electric field, chemicals, or ionic strength, or a combination of different stimuli. Consequently, these bionanogels offer an efficient solution to various biomedical limitations in the field of drug administration.

Functional Nanocomposite Hydrogels: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications reviews how the unique properties of nanoscale composite materials make them ideal candidates for use in biomedical hydrogels. The book covers a range of key nanocomposite materials for use in biomedical hydrogels, including graphene quantum dot, cellulose and collagen nanocomposites. A wide selection of biomedical applications for functional nanocomposite hydrogels is explored, from drug delivery and cancer therapy, to wound healing and bioimaging. This is a key reference for those working in the fields of biomaterials, nanotechnology, pharmacology, biomedical engineering, and anyone with a particular interest in composites and hydrogels. To improve the properties of conventional hydrogels, nanoparticles or nanostructures are incorporated into the hydrogel networks, forming a composite hydrogel with specialized functional properties which are tailored to a specific biomedical application. Reviews the benefits and challenges of nanocomposites as novel materials in biomedical hydrogels, providing the reader with a wider range of choice and improved options for hydrogel development Describes the synthesis and characterization of nanocomposite hydrogels, offering end-to-end analysis of the process Details the range of applications in biomedicine for nanocomposite hydrogels, including biosensing, antimicrobics and drug delivery

The book series Nanomaterials for the Life Sciences, provides an in-depth overview of all nanomaterial types and their uses in the life sciences. Each volume is dedicated to a specific material class and covers fundamentals, synthesis and characterization strategies, structure-property relationships and biomedical applications. The series brings nanomaterials to the Life Scientists and life science to the Materials Scientists so that synergies are seen and developed to the fullest. Written by international experts of various facets of this exciting field of research, the series is aimed at scientists of the following disciplines: biology, chemistry, materials science, physics, bioengineering, and medicine, together with cell biology, biomedical engineering, pharmaceutical chemistry, and toxicology, both in academia and fundamental research as well as in pharmaceutical companies. VOLUME 10 - Polymeric Nanomaterials