Stimuli-responsive and Self-healing Multicomponent Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Hydrogels can absorb and retain large quantities of water or other molecules inside their pores without dissolving in any solvents. Multicomponent stimuli-responsive hydrogels are especially interesting because they can change their physical and chemical properties with surrounding environmental stimuli. Multicomponent hydrogels with self-healing properties are attractive because of their capacity to repair and restore function after the damage has occurred. Researchers in drug delivery, gene regulation, tissue engineering, 3D printing, soft robotics, and other biomedical fields have shown keen interest in stimulus-responsive and self-healing multicomponent hydrogels. This chapter will address various multicomponent stimuli-responsive and self-healing hydrogels and their action mechanisms. A brief description of pertinent examples and their biomedical applications will also be provided.