Noble metal nanoparticles loaded smart polymer microgels have gained much attention due to fascinating combination of their properties in a single system. These hybrid systems have been extensively used in biomedicines, photonics, and catalysis. Hybrid microgels are characterized by using various techniques but UV/Vis spectroscopy is an easily available technique for characterization of noble metal nanoparticles loaded microgels. This technique is widely used for determination of size and shape of metal nanoparticles. The tuning of optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles under various stimuli can be studied using UV/Vis spectroscopic method. Time course UV/Vis spectroscopy can also be used to monitor the kinetics of swelling and deswelling of microgels and hybrid microgels. Growth of metal nanoparticles in polymeric network or growth of polymeric network around metal nanoparticle core can be studied by using UV/Vis spectroscopy. This technique can also be used for investigation of various applications of hybrid materials in catalysis, photonics, and sensing. This tutorial review describes the uses of UV/Vis spectroscopy in characterization and catalytic applications of responsive hybrid microgels with respect to recent research progress in this area.

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Optical sensors are always mesmerizing for chemists due to their selectivity, sensitivity, robustness and cost-effective nature. Moreover, these sensors provide the facility of onsite detection without employing any instrumental technique....

IntroductionCalcium is an essential element as it is the richest inorganic element in the human body, accounting for 1-2 of the body mass 1 . About 99 of the body s calcium is in bones and teeth giving a negotiable pool of calcium 2 . The leftover 1 is circulating in fluids and is liable for the ruling of metabolic functions like hormone discharge, blood coagulation, normal heart rate, enzyme activation, and cell membrane maintenance 3 . Low intake or absorption of mineral-like calcium might generate deficiencies which in turn are related to many human health problems. Calcium deficiency is often connected with vitamin D deficiency, which leads to complications with bone mineralization and severe muscle cramps 4 .Two forms of calcium deficiency are mostly found in humans, i.e., dietary calcium deficiency and hypocalcemia. Dietary calcium deficiency is related to insufficient calcium