Enhancing water retention in hydrogels under extreme conditions: Strategies, applications and challenges

IF 31.6 1区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI:10.1016/j.mser.2025.101098

Yuanxi Chang , Yan Jia , Yansong Pan , Jin Wang , Hongrui Yang , Mei Zu , Haifeng Cheng

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Hydrogels have garnered significant research interest for their versatile applications in biomedical, electronic, and agricultural fields—attributes intrinsically linked to their high-water-content matrices. However, hydrogel functionality frequently deteriorates under environmental conditions due to dehydration/freezing-induced structural damage, resulting in performance degradation. To address this challenge, various strategies have been developed to enhance the water retention of hydrogels, employing diverse mechanisms and targeting a range of applications. In this review, strategies for improving the water retention of hydrogels and their corresponding cutting-edge applications have been systematically described. Firstly, the states and importance of water in hydrogels are articulated. Subsequently, five core strategies are categorized and mechanistically analyzed across multi-scale: encapsulation, solvent optimization, ionic incorporation, structural design, and combination approaches. Then, the applications and developments of hydrogels are highlighted and mainly categorized into three promising candidates, including biomedical (tissue engineering, dressing, biosensing), electronic (electrolyte, sensor, wearable device), and agricultural (water retainer of soil, nutrient release, vertical farming) fields. Finally, current challenges and future research directions for hydrogels are critically assessed, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions and strategic advancements to unlock their full potential in diverse applications.

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在极端条件下增强水凝胶的保水性：策略、应用和挑战

水凝胶因其在生物医学、电子和农业领域的广泛应用而获得了重要的研究兴趣，这些应用与它们的高含水量基质有着内在的联系。然而，由于脱水/冷冻引起的结构损伤，水凝胶的功能在环境条件下经常恶化，从而导致性能下降。为了应对这一挑战，人们开发了各种策略来提高水凝胶的保水性，采用不同的机制并针对一系列应用。本文系统地介绍了提高水凝胶保水性的方法及其应用。首先，阐述了水凝胶中水的状态和重要性。随后，对五种核心策略进行了分类，并在多尺度上进行了机制分析：封装、溶剂优化、离子掺入、结构设计和组合方法。重点介绍了水凝胶在生物医学（组织工程、敷料、生物传感）、电子（电解质、传感器、可穿戴设备）和农业（土壤保水性、养分释放、垂直农业）等领域的应用与发展。最后，对水凝胶目前面临的挑战和未来的研究方向进行了批判性评估，强调需要全面的解决方案和战略进展，以释放其在各种应用中的全部潜力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

60.50

自引率

0.30%

发文量

审稿时长

34 days

期刊介绍： Materials Science & Engineering R: Reports is a journal that covers a wide range of topics in the field of materials science and engineering. It publishes both experimental and theoretical research papers, providing background information and critical assessments on various topics. The journal aims to publish high-quality and novel research papers and reviews. The subject areas covered by the journal include Materials Science (General), Electronic Materials, Optical Materials, and Magnetic Materials. In addition to regular issues, the journal also publishes special issues on key themes in the field of materials science, including Energy Materials, Materials for Health, Materials Discovery, Innovation for High Value Manufacturing, and Sustainable Materials development.