Issue 19, 2024

Methods of changing low molecular weight gel properties through gelation kinetics

Abstract

Low molecular weight gels continue to attract notable interest, with many potential applications. However, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of these systems and the correlation between the pre-gel and final gel states. The kinetics of the gelation process plays a crucial role in the bulk properties of the hydrogel and presents an opportunity to fine-tune these systems to meet the requirements of the chosen application. Therefore, it is possible to use a single gelator for multiple applications. This review discusses four ways to modify the pre-gelled structures before triggering gelation. Such modifications can enhance the material's intended performance, which may result in significant advancements in high-tech areas, such as drug delivery, cell culturing, electronics, and tissue engineering.

Graphical abstract: Methods of changing low molecular weight gel properties through gelation kinetics

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
22 feb 2024
Accepted
25 apr 2024
First published
26 apr 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Soft Matter, 2024,20, 3887-3896

Methods of changing low molecular weight gel properties through gelation kinetics

R. E. Ginesi and E. R. Draper, Soft Matter, 2024, 20, 3887 DOI: 10.1039/D4SM00238E

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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