Hydrogel

Encyclopedia : H : HY : HYD : Hydrogel

Hydrogel is a network of polymer chains that are water-soluble, sometimes found as a colloidal gel in which water is the dispersion medium. Hydrogels are superabsorbent (they can contain over 99% water) natural or synthetic polymers.

Common uses for hydrogel are:

In disposable diapers where they "capture" urine, or in sanitary towels
Contact lenses (silicone hydrogels, polyacrylamides)
medical electrodes using hydrogels composed of cross linked (polyethylene oxide, polyAMPS and polyvinylpyrrolidone)
Cell Culture and bioproduction [PuraMatrix Nanofiber Hydrogels]

Other, less common uses include:

Breast implants
Granules for holding soil moisture in arid areas
Dressings for healing of burn or other hard-to-heal wounds
reservoirs in topical drug delivery; particularly ionic drugs, delivered by iontophoresis (see ion exchange resin)

Common ingredients are eg. polyvinyl alcohol, sodium polyacrylate, acrylate polymers and copolymers with an abundance of hydrophilic groups.

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