Does hydrogel contain more than 90% of water?

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Water Content in Hydrogels: An Analysis

Introduction to Hydrogels and Water Content

Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymer networks that can hold a significant amount of water, making them similar to soft biological tissues. They are widely used in various applications, including biomedical fields, due to their unique properties such as high water content, flexibility, and responsiveness to external stimuli.

Hydrogels with Over 90% Water Content

Ultrahigh-Water-Content Hydrogels

Several studies have demonstrated that hydrogels can contain extremely high water content. For instance, some hydrogels have been reported to contain up to 99.7% water by weight. These hydrogels are formed through strong host-guest complexation with cucurbituril (CB), which allows for rapid self-healing and responsiveness to multiple external stimuli.

Natural Polymer-Based Hydrogels

Natural polymer-based hydrogels, such as those made from cellulose, carrageenan, and hyaluronic acid, typically contain more than 90% water. These hydrogels are known for their ability to swell and shrink by absorbing and releasing water, making them suitable for applications in biomedicine, tissue engineering, and smart materials.

Synthetic Hydrogels

Synthetic hydrogels, such as those made from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), also exhibit high water content, often exceeding 90% by weight. These hydrogels are synthesized via covalent cross-linking and are designed to have high mechanical and recoverable properties, making them ideal for tissue replacement and other load-bearing applications.

Mechanical Properties and Applications

Gelatin-Based Hydrogels

Gelatin-based hydrogels have been studied for their mechanical properties at varying water contents. Hydrogels with 90% water content show significant viscoelastic behavior, which is crucial for their application in biomedical fields.

Double Network Hydrogels

Double network hydrogels, which consist of two interpenetrating polymer networks, can also contain 90% water. These hydrogels exhibit a brittle-ductile transition depending on their water content, which affects their mechanical strength and toughness.

Tough Bonding and Stretchability

Hydrogels containing 90% water have been designed to bond toughly to non-porous surfaces, such as glass and metals, through chemical anchorage. This results in high interfacial toughness and energy dissipation during detachment, making them suitable for applications like hydrogel superglues and protective coatings. Additionally, some hydrogels can stretch beyond 20 times their initial length while maintaining high fracture energies, thanks to the synergy of covalent and ionic crosslinks.

Conclusion

In summary, hydrogels can indeed contain more than 90% water, with some formulations reaching up to 99.7% water content. These hydrogels, whether natural or synthetic, exhibit unique mechanical properties and responsiveness to external stimuli, making them highly versatile for various applications in biomedicine, tissue engineering, and beyond .