Issue 19, 2024

Surface functionalized cryogels – characterization methods, recent progress in preparation and application

Abstract

Cryogels are polymeric materials with a sponge-like microstructure and have attracted significant attention in recent decades. Research has focused on their composition, fabrication techniques, characterization methods as well as potential or existing fields of applications. The use of functional precursors or functionalizing ligands enables the preparation of cryogels with desired properties such as biocompatibility or responsivity. They can also exhibit adsorptive properties or can be used for catalytical purposes. Although a very brief overview about several functional (macro-)monomers and functionalizing ligands has been provided by previous reviewers for certain cryogel applications, so far there has been no particular focus on the evaluation of the functionalization success and the characterization methods used. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of different characterization methods most recently used for the evaluation of cryogel functionalization. Furthermore, new functional (macro-)monomers and subsequent cryogel functionalization strategies are discussed, based on synthetic polymers, biopolymers and a combination of both. This review highlights the importance of the functionalization aspect in cryogel research in order to produce materials with tailored properties for certain applications.

Graphical abstract: Surface functionalized cryogels – characterization methods, recent progress in preparation and application

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
21 Mar 2024
Accepted
27 Jun 2024
First published
04 Jul 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Mater. Horiz., 2024,11, 4600-4637

Surface functionalized cryogels – characterization methods, recent progress in preparation and application

F. Behrendt, M. Gottschaldt and U. S. Schubert, Mater. Horiz., 2024, 11, 4600 DOI: 10.1039/D4MH00315B

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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