Macroscopic hydrogel/network properties

Polymer networks (e.g., elastomers and gels) can be described on the microscopic scale by typical structural parameters like mesh size but also on the macroscopic scale by their bulk properties like swelling (uptake of liquids) or mechanical behavior. As the most important polymer networks used in bionanotechnology and biomedicine are hydrogel networks, we will focus on experimental methods and theories that are commonly used to analyze such hydrogel networks. 

One of the most important properties of hydrogel networks is their swelling degree. Due to water absorption into the network, the macroscopic dimensions of the cross-hnked bulk polymer increase until an equilibrium is reached at which the decrease in free energy due to mixing of the polymer chains with... 

Deriving Microscopic Network Parameters from Macroscopic Hydrogel Properties... 

The following sections describe the preparation and characterization of supramolecular polymer networks, particularly emphasizing their physical-chemical features with regard to the type and strength of physical chain cross-linking and the resulting macroscopic material properties. Furthermore, recent work on the formation and characterization of supramolecular hydrogels based on synthetic and natural precursors is summarized with a focus on their application and potential in biomedicine. 

Hydrogels made by crosslinking copolymerization are interesting materials for a variety of pharmaceutical and hygienic applications. The macroscopic properties such as swelling behavior and elasticity are quite well understood (7). However, little information is available on the internal structure and network topology. 

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