Interfacial Interaction-Driven Comparison of Phase-Transition and Phase-Change Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Multifunctional Energy-Therapeutic Platforms

Abstract

A new class of soft materials known as phase-transition and phase-change hydrogels (PTHs and PCHs) may undergo reversible changes in volume or structure in response to external stimuli, including heat, light, pH, or electromagnetic fields. For sophisticated healthcare, energy, and smart device applications, their chemical adaptability and adjustable mechanical properties have attracted significant attention. The basic ideas that determine hydrogel responsiveness and multifunctionality are introduced at the outset of this review, which is then followed by classifications and design guidelines. After that, the review delves into synthesis techniques for customizing PTHs and PCHs, with a focus on using nanoparticles as reinforcing agents to improve functional variety, robustness, and responsiveness. To demonstrate how nanoscale interactions regulate mechanical reinforcement, energy dissipation, and phasechange kinetics, the molecular processes and structure-property correlations driving phase transitions are examined. Energy technologies (thermal management, storage, wearable electronics), smart devices (actuators, sensors, bioelectronics), and therapeutic systems (drug delivery, tissue engineering, photothermal treatment) are among the recent advancements in multifunctional applications that are reviewed. The study concludes by discussing important issues, including biocompatibility, long-term stability, and scalable production, and provides future directions for flexible, sustainable, and multipurpose soft materials. Nanoparticleengineered PTHs and PCHs become flexible platforms at the nexus of nanotechnology, materials science, and biomedical engineering by combining design, synthesis, and application insights.