Abstract
We present a robust and straightforward method for fabricating remarkably responsive hydrogel scaffolds consisting of submicron-sized microgel particles. We demonstrate that the microgel particles assemble either through bridging or depletion interactions to yield a structure that swells or deswells at a macroscopic level in much shorter times as compared to a bulk polymer gel of similar characteristics. This approach offers a new way of fabricating functional hydrogel scaffolds with controllable responsiveness to applied stimuli and excellent loading capability for a wide variety of materials, irrespective of chemistry, size, and shape.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 168-172 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Nano Letters |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |