Abstract

A REVIEW ON HYDROGEL

Ganesh R. Bharskar*

ABSTRACT

Hydrogels are a unique class of cross-linked polymeric three-dimensional networks that can accommodate a significant fraction of aqueous solvents and biological fluids within their structures. Hydrogels now have attracted a growing interest from most of the scientists in various research fields. Hydrogels have played a significant role in a wide range of applications including drug delivery systems, diagnostics, tissue engineering, optics and imaging. Today, there are many issues affecting drug delivery where hydrogel may be one possible solution to those. Hence the hydrogel biomaterial preparation techniques and properties evaluations are of extreme significance. Several techniques for the synthesis of hydrogels have been published, such as co-polymerization / crosslinking of co-monomers using multifunctional co-monomer, which acts as a crosslinking agent. Hydrogels are used in some applications of human body. This review paper looks at the description of classification, methods of synthesis and applications.

Keywords: Hydrogels, crosslinking agents, Interpenetrating network, Complex Coacervation, Irradiation.