A Sensor Platform for Smart Hydrogels in Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Smart hydrogels are inherently biocompatible hydrophilic three-dimensional polymer networks able to undergo a volume-phase transition in the presence of an analyte. By molecular imprinting and/or aptamer-based approaches they can be tailored for a wide range of analytes with high selectivity. In combination with the biocompatibility, this makes hydrogels very promising candidates for biomedical sensor applications. However, to date hydrogels are rarely used for that purpose as the reliable detection of their swelling state remains a challenge. Here we report on a newly developed biocompatible bending sensor platform which can be equipped with almost any smart hydrogel, thereby paving the way for biomedical applications.

Metal-Filled Polyvinylpyrrolidone Copolymers: Promising Platforms for Creating Sensors

“…Nowadays, in various fields of science and practice, a demand exists for polymer materials that not only possess the necessary physical and chemical properties, but are also able to predictably change their characteristics during their operation depending on external stimuli, due to which they can be used for the manufacture of sensors. Polymer hydrogels are a promising material for creating sensors for various purposes [1][2][3][4]. Polymer hydrogels are characterized by high sorption capacity for low molecular weight substances [5] and permeability to liquids and gases [6], which is a prerequisite for their use in various fields of science and practice [7][8][9].…”

“…However, the use of intelligent hydrogels as sensors is somewhat difficult since a reliable assessment of their swelling state remains problematic. In return, this requires the development of more reliable and highly sensitive methods for detecting the smallest changes in hydrogel volume during its swelling [4]. At the same time, depending on the nature of the polymer matrix of the hydrogel material and the specific stimulus, it can be much more accurate to record changes in other characteristics of the hydrogel.…”