Hydrogels: Synthesis, Classification, Properties and Potential Applications—A Brief Review

Hydrogels are composed of three dimensional structures with hydrated polymeric network. Nowadays, an exhaustive research has been carried out throughout the world related to the biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental applications of hydrogels. Such materials possesses superabsorbent properties which can be controlled by varying the concentration, temperature, pH etc. of the external stimuli environment. In biomedical field, the super intelligent hydrogels have gained a significant interest from many researchers in a wide variety of applications including tissue engineering, drug delivery, diagnostics, imaging and optics. The purpose of this review is to present a broad view regarding the properties of hydrogels aiming at biomedical applications, their classification and different preparation methods. This review also highlights the recent literature covering important results related to some biomedicaly important hydrogels. In addition, some important miscellaneous applications of the hydrogels are also described in the present review article. Graphic Abstract