Physically cross-linked gels have unique advantages of
repeated
swelling and shrinking of network structures, where the stability
of gels at the swelled phase, particularly under ionic conditions,
is extremely critical. In this study, it has been shown that functionalized
nanofillers and polar solvents can increase the network densities
of physically cross-linked gels with higher dimensional stability
by increasing the polar and electrostatic interactions. The characteristic
nonbonded interactions of CNTs with ionic solvents have been utilized
for the controlled swelling of toughened double-network gels as the
function of pH and time. The swelling of the overall gel morphology
is found to be important for the release of analytes; however, the
functional cross-sectional sites in the nanohybrids hold the key for
desorption kinetics. The selection of interactive functional moieties
in the nanohybrids and analytes has led to the development of highly
efficient and controlled release media. The electrostatic interaction
of analytes with functionally and dimensionally stable gels with controlled
porosity indicates a clear structure–property correlation,
which could be exploited to design and fabricate efficient drug delivery
vehicles and rapid surface decontaminants.