Hydrogels degradation rate

The proper choice of hydrogel macromers can produce membranes with a range of permeability, pore sizes and degradation rates suitable for a variety of applications in surgery, medical diagnosis and treatment. Dispersion systems used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations can be categorized as either suspensions or emulsions. 

The hydrolytic process consists in a cleavage of chemical bonds by the addition of water. The cross-linking density, the local pH, and the polymer network chemistry, including backbone molecular weight, crystallinity and hydrophobicity, influence the degradation rate of hydrolytically degradable hydrogels. 

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