Physically Cross-Linked Hydrogel Development Services
The outstanding advantage of physical crosslinking is biomedical safety, thus avoiding the potential cytotoxicity of unreacted chemical crosslinkers and facilitating the design of bioactive hydrogels for a wide range of biomedical applications. As a leader in hydrogel development, Matexcel is committed to developing customized physically cross-linked hydrogels for our global customers and helping them overcome all difficulties in hydrogel development and application.
Advantages of Physically Cross-Linked Hydrogels
Physically cross-linked hydrogels are materials formed by physical interactions between polymer chains rather than by chemical bonding. These hydrogels consist of long chains of polymers that are held together by weak reversible interactions such as hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions. Physically cross-linked hydrogels offer several advantages over chemically cross-linked hydrogels. On the one hand, they are easy to synthesize and process and do not require toxic chemical cross-linking agents, thus reducing the risk of damage or denaturation of any incorporated bioactive molecules. In addition, physically cross-linked hydrogels can exhibit improved mechanical properties and faster degradation rates than chemically cross-linked hydrogels. In summary, physically cross-linked hydrogels are easily designed with specific properties such as controlled swelling, mechanical strength, and degradation rates, making them versatile and sustainable star materials for a variety of biomedical applications.
Fig. 1 Graphical representations of different types of physical cross-linking in hydrogels: (a) ionic interaction, (b) hydrophobic interaction, (c) cross-linking junction by cooling, and (d) complex coacervate. (Ali A., et al., 2018)
Applications of Physically Cross-Linked Hydrogels
Physically cross-linked hydrogels have a unique set of properties that make them suitable for a wide range of applications in various fields, including biomedical, environmental, and industrial applications.
- Tissue Engineering: Physically cross-linked hydrogels can be used as a scaffold for tissue engineering because they have high water content, biocompatibility, and can mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of natural tissues.
- Drug Delivery: Physically cross-linked hydrogels are particularly attractive for this application because they have a high degree of swelling and can retain drugs for long periods of time, which can lead to sustained drug release.
- Wound Dressing: Physically cross-linked hydrogels are particularly useful for this application because they can be designed to have specific mechanical and biological properties that can aid in wound healing.
- Biosensors: Physically cross-linked hydrogels can be designed to have specific sensitivity and selectivity for different analytes, making them useful for detecting specific biomolecules.
- Water Purification: Physically cross-linked hydrogels can be designed to have specific properties, such as porosity and surface charge, that can help them selectively remove certain contaminants from water.
- Adhesives: Physically cross-linked hydrogels can be designed to have specific mechanical and adhesive properties that can make them useful for different types of applications, such as wound closure or tissue bonding.
Our Services
Matexcel has accumulated extensive experience in the field of customized hydrogel development and we could develop customized solutions according to the specific application needs of our customers. Our customized hybrid hydrogel development services include but are not limited to, the following.
- Physically Cross-Linked Hydrogel Formulation Design Services
We offer customized physically cross-linked hydrogel formulation design services, selecting the appropriate raw materials and physical cross-linking methods based on the customer's specific R&D objectives and application needs, and optimizing the gelation conditions to create hydrogel materials with desired properties. - Physically Cross-Linked Hydrogel Modification Services
We can provide customized physically cross-linked hydrogel modification services based on specific customer needs. For example, through the surface modification and structural modification of hydrogels to improve their biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and mechanical properties to meet the requirements of specific applications. - Physically Cross-Linked Hydrogel Analysis and Characterization Services
We provide a full range of analysis and characterization services in the development of physically cross-linked hydrogels, as well as efficacy testing services for hydrogel samples.
Deliverables
We have professional scientists and extensive experience related to hydrogels. In addition, we also have perfect laboratory equipment. We promise that our deliverables are as follows.
- Versatile and customized physically cross-linked hydrogel products.
- Customized physically cross-linked hydrogel formulations.
Process of Our Service
Want to Learn More?
As a global leader in the field of hydrogels, Matexcel is committed to advancing the widespread application of hydrogels by providing customized hydrogel development, modification, and analysis services. Our exceptional and dedicated scientists will provide expert technical support at every step of your project to help you solve any problems in the development of physically cross-linked hydrogels. If you are interested in our services, please fill out the online inquiry form and tell us more about your project.
References
- Hu W., et al. Advances in crosslinking strategies of biomedical hydrogels. Biomater Sci. 2019, 7(3):843-855.
- Ali A.; Ahmed S. Recent Advances in Edible Polymer Based Hydrogels as a Sustainable Alternative to Conventional Polymers. J Agric Food Chem. 2018, 66(27):6940-6967.