Stimuli-responsive porous hydrogels at interfaces for molecular filtration, separation, controlled release, and gating in capsules and membranes.
A continuously growing area of controlled and tunable transport and separation of biomolecules and drugs has recently attracted attention to the structures which can be referred to as stimuli-responsive porous hydrogel thin films. Because of spatial constraints, swelling/shrinking of the hydrogel films results in closing/opening (or vice versa) of the film's pores. Such responsive systems can be used in the configuration of plane films or capsules. The combination of a low thickness (translating into a low hydrodynamic flow resistance and rapid response) with well-defined size and shape of pores (translating into better control of transport and separation), which can be closed, opened, or tuned by an external signal (allowing a large amplitude of changes in diffusivity of solutes in the thin film and a precise control of the pore size), makes these materials very attractive for a range of applications, such as molecular filtration, separation, drug delivery, sensors, and actuators.
Tokarev
Ihor
I
Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA.
Minko
Sergiy
S
D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D005374:Filtration; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D016062:Porosity; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
D002214:Capsules; D020100:Hydrogels; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012997:Solvents