Synthetic polymer hydrogels

Polymer hydrogels are a rapidly developing group of materials, gaining wide application in different fields, such as pharmaceuticals, medicine, and agriculture. This chapter provides information and a classification of synthetic polymer hydrogels in accordance with their chemical structure, properties, and applications. Gels can be differentiated by the nature of cross-linking into: physical gels and chemical gels. Synthetic polymer hydrogels differ in their characteristics due to various chemical structures, synthesis technique, and water content or cross-linking. A change in chemical composition or even a change in one of the synthesis factors may lead to new intelligent biomaterials. Copolymerization/cross-linking free-radical polymerizations are commonly used to produce hydrogels by reacting hydrophilic monomers with multifunctional cross-linkers. Water-soluble linear polymers of both natural and synthetic origin are cross-linked to form hydrogels in a number of ways. The structural properties of gels make them useful for various kinds of applications such as sensors, contact lenses, artificial organs, and drug delivery systems.