Nanowerk July 18, 2023
Researchers in Germany have developed intelligent humidity-programmed hydrogel patches with high stretchability and tunable water-uptake and -release by copolymerization and crosslinking of N-isopropylacrylamide and oligo(ethylene glycol) comonomers. The intelligent elastomeric patches strongly responded to different humidities and temperatures in terms of mechanical properties which made them applicable for soft robotics and smart skin applications where autonomous adaption to environmental conditions was a key requirement. Beyond using the hydrogel in the conventional state in aqueous media, the new patches could be controlled by relative humidity. The humidity programming of the patches allowed to tune drug release kinetics, opening potential application fields such as skin wound therapy and personalized medication. They showed a huge dependence on temperature and humidity. The patches are compliant with human skin and therefore patient-friendly in terms of adapting to movements… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
a) Sketch showing a Franz diffusion cell… Credit: Advanced Materials Technologies, 03 July 2023