Pros and Cons: Supramolecular or Macromolecular: What Is Best for Functional Hydrogels with Advanced Properties?
Rienk Eelkema, Andrij Pich
Abstract
Hydrogels are fascinating soft materials with unique properties. Many biological systems are based on hydrogel-like structures, underlining their versatility and relevance. The properties of hydrogels strongly depend on the structure of the building blocks they are composed of, as well as the nature of interactions between them in the network structure. Herein, gel networks made by supramolecular interactions are compared to covalent macromolecular networks, drawing conclusions about their performance and application as responsive materials.
Topics & Concepts
Self-healing hydrogelsSupramolecular chemistryMaterials scienceMacromoleculeNanotechnologySoft materialsCovalent bondNetwork structurePolymer scienceComputer scienceMoleculePolymer chemistryChemistryOrganic chemistryBiochemistryMachine learningSupramolecular Self-Assembly in MaterialsHydrogels: synthesis, properties, applicationsAdvanced Materials and Mechanics