Hydrogel

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-005468",
  "term": "Hydrogel",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A three-dimensional network of hydrophilic polymer chains that can absorb and retain large amounts of water or biological fluids without dissolving. The polymer chains are cross-linked, providing structural integrity. These materials are widely used in biomedical applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility and tunable properties.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "gel",
    "aquagel",
    "colloidal network",
    "network",
    "swelling agent"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2007, 79, 1801. 'Definitions of terms relating to the structure and processing of sols, gels, networks, and inorganic-organic hybrid materials (IUPAC Recommendations 2007)' on page 1807 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200779101801)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/hydrogel/"
}