Gradient hydrogels – overview of techniques demonstrating the existence of a gradient

Abstract

Gradient hydrogels are promising future materials which could be usable in tissue engineering (scaffolds), pharmaceutical (drug delivery systems with controlled release) and many others re-lated disciplines. These hydrogels exhibit a more complex inner (gradient) structure (e.g. con-centration gradient) than simple isotropic hydrogel. Gradient structured hydrogels could be beneficial in, for example, understanding intercellular interactions. The fabrication of gradient hydrogels is relatively deeply explored, but a comprehensive description of the physi-co-chemical techniques demonstrating the existence of a gradient structure is still missing. Here, we summarize the state-of-the-art of available experimental techniques which could be applica-ble in proving and/or describing in physico-chemical terms the inner gradient structure of hy-drogels. The aim of this paper is to give the reader an overview of the existing database of suit-able techniques for characterizing gradient hydrogels.Gradient hydrogels are promising future materials which could be usable in tissue engineering (scaffolds), pharmaceutical (drug delivery systems with controlled release) and many others re-lated disciplines. These hydrogels exhibit a more complex inner (gradient) structure (e.g. con-centration gradient) than simple isotropic hydrogel. Gradient structured hydrogels could be beneficial in, for example, understanding intercellular interactions. The fabrication of gradient hydrogels is relatively deeply explored, but a comprehensive description of the physi-co-chemical techniques demonstrating the existence of a gradient structure is still missing. Here, we summarize the state-of-the-art of available experimental techniques which could be applica-ble in proving and/or describing in physico-chemical terms the inner gradient structure of hy-drogels. The aim of this paper is to give the reader an overview of the existing database of suit-able techniques for characterizing gradient hydrogels.