Functional Nanocomposite Hydrogels

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.

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

Hydrogels are ubiquitous in nature, which are three-dimensionally (3D) crosslinked polymer networks with amounts of water inside. Naturally, they can be regarded as semi/solid showing intermediate properties of solid and liquid. Hydrogels have attracted growing interest in diverse applications, due to their excellent biocompatibility, permeability, and 3D network. With the development of polymer synthesis, great progress in tough hydrogels, and continuous emerging of advanced fabrication methods, hydrogels become promising functional materials. To further broaden their practical usages, gre...

This book is part of a two-volume book series that exhaustively reviews the key recent research into nanoclay reinforced polymer composites. This second volume focuses on nanoclay based nanocomposites and bionanocomposites fabrication, characterization and applications. This includes classification of nanoclay, chemical modification and processing techniques of nanocomposites. The book also provides comprehensive information about nanoclay modification and functionalization; modification of nanoclay systems, geological and mineralogical research on clays suitability; bio-nanocomposites based on nanoclays; modelling of mechanical behaviour of halloysite based composites; mechanical and thermal properties of halloysite nanocomposites; the effect of Nanoclays on gas barrier properties of polymers and modified nanocomposites. This book is a valuable reference guide for academics and industrial practitioners alike.

The book deals with the synthesis and characterization of hydrogels specifically used as drug delivery systems. Each chapter includes the most recent updates about the different starting materials employed and the improvement of their physicochemical and biological properties to synthetize high performing carriers for specific uses.

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.

Hydrogels, due to their soft and water abundant natures, highly resemble human skins and tissues and thereby have attracted extensive attention in recent years. Functional hydrogels showing responsiveness to various stimuli such as pH, temperature, strain and pressure are promising for a wide range of biomedical and electrical applications. However, traditional hydrogels crosslinked via permanent covalent bonds are generally weak, brittle and lack of functionalities. Incorporation of reversible and dynamic crosslinks into hydrogel networks can effectively improve their mechanical performances, introduce multiple responsiveness, and endow the hydrogels with self-healing capability. On the other hand, introduction of stiff nanomaterials into hydrogel matrix is an effective approach towards strong and functional gel materials. The combination of the nanofillers and appropriate interfacial reversible and dynamic interactions provides a promising method for the fabrication of high-performance multifunctional hydrogels to meet the increasing needs of modern materials. In this thesis, a review on hydrogels based on reversible and dynamic crosslinks, stimuli-responsive and self-healing functions, and nanocomposite hydrogels was presented first followed by three original research projects on developing nanocomposite hydrogels with stimuli sensitivity and self-healing property based on reversible interactions for biomedical and electrical applications. Injectable, self-healing and pH-responsive hydrogels are great intelligent drug delivery vehicles for controlled and localized therapeutic release. Hydrogels that show pH-sensitive behaviors in mildly acidic range are ideal to be used for the treatment of regions showing local acidosis like tumors, wounds and infections. In the first project, we present a facile preparation of an injectable, self-healing and super-sensitive pH-responsive nanocomposite hydrogel based on Schiff base reactions between aldehyde-functionalized polymers and amine-modified silica nanoparticles. The hydrogel shows fast gelation, injectability and rapid self-healing capability. Moreover, the hydrogel demonstrates excellent stability under neutral physiological conditions while a sharp gel-sol transition induced by faintly acidic environment. The pH-responsiveness of the hydrogel is ultra-sensitive, where the mechanical properties, hydrolytic degradation and drug release behaviors can alter significantly when subjected to a slight pH change of 0.2. The novel injectable, self-healing and sensitive pH-responsive hydrogel serves as a promising candidate as localized drug carriers with controlled delivery capability triggered by acidosis, holding great promise for cancer therapy, wound healing and infection treatment. Conductive hydrogels are of great significance for soft electronic devices. In the second project, we have developed a novel hydrogel ionic conductor by integrating nanofiller reinforcement with micelle cross-linking. The hydrogel was facilely prepared via one-pot polymerization of acrylamide and an amino-functionalized monomer in the presence of carbon nanotubes, aldehyde-modified F127 and LiCl. The dynamic chemical and physical interactions of the cross-linked network offers the hydrogel with a wide spectrum of properties, including excellent stretchability, toughness, exceptional elasticity, resistance to damage by sharp materials, self-healing property and high conductivity. In addition, the hydrogel demonstrated cooling-induced whitening optical behavior. When exploited as a strain and pressure sensor to monitor diverse human motions, the prepared hydrogel sensor showed excellent sensitivity and reliability. The hydrogel was further integrated with an eye mask to monitor human sleep and showed high reliability for the detection of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This work provides new insights into the fabrication of multifunctional, smart and conductive materials, holding great promise for a broad range of applications like wearable sensors, artificial skins, and soft robotics. In the third project, we have developed an ionic conductive nanocomposite hydrogel with ultra-stretchability and intelligent sensing functions. By leveraging the dynamic feature of multiple intermolecular interactions, polymer/carbon nanotube networks with excellent mechanical performances (i.e., tensile strength, stretchability and toughness up to 1.09 MPa, 4075% and 12.8 MJ/m3, respectively) were achieved. Additionally, the hydrogel is soft, elastic, transparent and self-healing. The rational combination of the mechanical and electrical properties renders the as-prepared hydrogel with excellent sensing performances and cycling stability, and therefore enables it to perform as a sensory unit of a complete platform for the recognition of some complicated human behaviors. Specifically, with the integration of machine learning module, the hydrogel-based platform exhibits great recognition accuracies to human handwriting motions from single letters to words and phrases after proper training. The combination of superior mechanical performances and intelligent sensing functions within this hydrogel-based ionic skin unlocks its potential as the intelligent human-device interface, which promotes the application of artificial intelligence in customized electronic devices.

This book explores the potential of hydrogels as a multiutility system and their benefits (biocompatibility, degradability, and supporting scaffolds) for a wide range of applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. It also discusses the future prospects and challenges facing hydrogels. A wide variety of smart hydrogels (conducting, stimuli responsive, and others) with possible biomedical applications are elaborated. The book demonstrates the effectiveness of hydrogels in diagnostics of diseases in various in vivo and in vitro environments and highlights the engineering/functionalization of hydrogels for everyday drug dosage as an efficient drug carrier, scaffold, and sensing application. Explores the potential of hydrogels as a multifunctional system and their benefits, particularly for biomedical applications in diagnostics as well as therapeutics. Highlights the designing and engineering of hydrogels for everyday drug dosage and possible functionalization to fabricate an efficient drug carrier. Examines the significance of biopolymer-based hydrogels and their responsiveness in different physiological fluids. Demonstrates the effectiveness of hydrogels in diagnostics of diseases in various in,vivo and in,vitro environments. Presents challenges associated with the hydrogels and discusses possible in-hand modifications at length. Dr. Anujit Ghosal worked in the School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. Currently, he is affiliated with the School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, PRC. Dr. Ghosal researches in biochemistry, polymer chemistry, and nanotechnology. He has been the recipient of prestigious fellowships throughout his research career. His research ability is proven by his published peer-reviewed research and review articles and contributed book chapters. Dr. Ajeet Kaushik works as an assistant professor of chemistry and is exploring advanced electrochemical sensing systems and nanomedicine for personalized health wellness at the Department of Natural Sciences of the Division of Science, Arts, and Mathematics at Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland, US. He is the recipient of various reputed awards for his service in the area of nanobiotechnology for health care. His excellent research credentials are reflected by his four edited books, 100 international research peer-reviewed publications, and three patents in the area of nanomedicine and smart biosensors for personalized health care.