Synthetic ionic polymers, gelation

Fig. 1 Hierarchical assembly of nanofibrillar hydrogels. Individual molecules organize into nanofibrils, which subsequently associate and/or entangle to form a 3D water-swollen network. Biopolymer molecules are often oriented parallel to the long axis of the nanofibril, whereas synthetic polymer chains are oriented perpendicularly to the main axis. Gelation can be triggered by changes in temperature and pH, an increase in polymer concentration, or an increase in ionic strength of the polymer solution, to name a few...

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