HYDROGELS
Hydrogels are type of gels whose liquid component is water.
Hydrogels are
• hydrophilic, macromolecular polymeric materials that are cross-linked to form a 3-D network
• that permits the retention of relatively large volumes of water via hydrogen bonding,
• while avoiding solubilization in the aqueous environment.
Hydrogels are also referred to as Self- healing hydrogels due to the spontaneous formation of new bonds (hydrogen bonding) when old bonds are broken within a material.
Hydrogels have a wide range of application from biomedicals to electronics and agriculture
• WOUND CARE
The benefits of using hydrogel-based dressings for wound care are vast, especially if you know how to administer the gel properly. Hydrogels are an excellent source for providing moisture to a dry lesion. Hydrogel dressings act fast to help cool down a wound, as well as provide temporary relief from pain for up to six hours. By keeping the wound moist, the hydrogel dressing assists in protecting your body from wound infection and promotes efficient healing.
Hydrogel dressings consist of 90 percent water in a gel base, and serves to help monitor fluid exchange from within the wound surface.
• ELECTRONICS
The use of hydrogels as matrices in electronics is very promising considering the high tunability and precision of capacitors with hydrogel dielectrics. By changing the polymer and the solution carried it is possible to build high-performant cheap capacitors.
• SOFT CONTACT LENSES
Contact lenses are one of the reasons why hydrogels where developed in the first place. They come with many different features and procedures of usage. The most used polymer exploited to produce soft-contact lenses is silicone, under hydrogel form. Incredibly, its permeability also allows oxygen.
• HORTICULTURE
In horticulture, the water absorbed by the hydrogel is slowly released into the surrounding soil or soilless grow medium, helping to limit the need for watering and cutting water usage.
However, hydrogels should not be considered as a growth medium rather, they are used primarily to improve irrigation schedules.
Hydrogels are also applicable in:
• TISSUE ENGINEERING
• DENTAL APPLICATIONS
• DRUG DELIVERY
• DISPOSABLE DIAPERS