Note: 152490_1_En_FM1_OnlinePDF.pdf -- Outline placeholder -- Preface -- Contents -- 152490_1_En_1_Chapter_OnlinePDF.pdf -- Chapter : General Properties of Hydrogels -- Introduction -- Swelling and Elasticity of Hydrogels -- Inhomogeneity of Hydrogels -- Hydrogels with Improved Properties -- References -- 152490_1_En_2_Chapter_OnlinePDF.pdf -- Chapter : Synthesis of Hydrogels -- Chemical Cross-Linking -- Temperature Dependent Swelling -- pH-Dependent Swelling -- Bi-Responsive Materials -- Polymerisation and Cross-Linking -- Effect of Synthesis Temperature -- Effect of Solvent -- Effect of Cross-Linker Concentration -- Effect of Monomer Concentration -- Morphological Characterization and Photo Patterning -- Generation of Hydrogel Patterns -- Cross-Linking and Patterning by Irradiation -- Sol-Gel Analysis -- Radiation Source -- Radiochemical Synthesis of Hydrogels -- Examples of Gel Synthesis -- Patterning -- Gel Point Determination of the Reversible Gelatin Gelling System -- Gel Point -- Gel Point Determination Methods -- Dynamic Light Scattering -- Oscillatory shear rheology -- Gelatin as Example for Reversible Gelation -- Critical Dynamical Exponents for the Gelation Threshold of Gelatin -- Conclusions -- References -- 152490_1_En_3_Chapter_OnlinePDF.pdf -- Chapter : Swelling-Related Processes in Hydrogels -- Thermodynamics of Swelling -- Chemical Potential and Equilibrium Degree of Swelling -- Flory-Rehner Theory, Mixing Part -- Flory-Rehner Theory, Elastic Part -- Outline placeholder -- a) Chemical Potential -- b) Deformation Models -- c) Deformation of Perfect Networks -- Discussion of Flory-Rehner Equation -- Mechanical Power Generation on Example of PVA-PAAc gel -- Kinetics of Swelling -- Diffusion -- Cooperative Diffusion Coefficient -- Time Dependence of the Degree of Swelling -- Volume Phase Transition -- Gels with Fast Response. , Determination of Dcoop of Polyelectrolyte Hydrogels by DLS -- Characterization of Molecular Processes -- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Raman Spectroscopy -- 3.1.1Introduction -- 3.1.2Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy -- 3.1.3Raman Spectroscopy -- 3.1.4Sample Preparation -- Sampling Techniques for FT-IR Spectroscopy -- Deuterium Oxide Instead Water? -- Sampling Techniques for Raman Spectroscopy -- 3.1.5Qualitative Spectral Interpretation -- General Approaches -- The Region 2,000-3,800cm-1 -- The Region 900-2,000cm-1 -- The Region 500-900cm-1 -- 3.1.6FT-IR and Raman Spectra of Hydrogels -- 3.1.7FT-IR and Raman spectroscopic imaging -- FT-IR and Raman Imaging Spectrometer -- Enhanced Data Analysis and Imaging Evaluation -- NMR Imaging -- 3.2.1Application on Network Characterization -- 3.2.2Principle of NMR Imaging -- 3.2.3Examples -- Monitoring of Transport Processes -- Transport Processes for Drug Release -- Volume Phase Transition of a Temperature Sensitive Hydrogel -- Diffusion of Small Molecules into a Swollen Hydrogel -- Distribution of Swelling Agent inside a Swollen Gel -- References -- 152490_1_En_4_Chapter_OnlinePDF.pdf -- Chapter : Modelling and Simulation of the Chemo-Electro-Mechanical Behaviour -- Modelling on Different Scales -- Statistical Theory -- Porous Media Theory -- Coupled Chemo-Electro-Mechanical Model -- Chemical Field -- Electrical Field -- Mechanical Field -- Coupling of the Involved Fields -- Discrete Element Model -- Coupled Chemo-Electro-Mechanical Model -- Discretisation -- Coupling Schemes -- Numerical Simulation of the Chemo-Electrical Field -- Chemical Stimulation -- Electrical Stimulation -- Numerical Simulation of the Chemo-Electro-Mechanical Field -- Chemical Stimulation -- Electrical Stimulation -- Mechanical Stimulation -- Comparison with Experimental Results -- Conclusions and Outlook. , References -- 152490_1_En_5_Chapter_OnlinePDF.pdf -- Chapter : Hydrogels for Chemical Sensors -- Hydrogel-Based Piezoresistive Chemical Sensors -- Operational Principle -- Sensor Design -- Sensor Calibration -- Hydrogel Material Preparation and Characterization -- Thermally Cross-Linked Poly(vinyl Alcohol)/Poly(Acrylic Acid) Blend -- Chemically Cross-Linked N-Isopropylacrylamide -- Photo Cross-Linkable Copolymers -- Materials -- P2VP-block-P(NIPAAm-co-DMIAAm) block copolymer -- PNIPAAm-DMAAm-DMIAAm terpolymer -- PDMAEMA-DMIMA copolymer -- Polymer characterization -- UV Cross-Linking -- Hydrogel Conditioning -- Temperature Sensitivity of PNIPAAm Gels -- pH Sensors -- Sensitivity -- Response Time -- Signal Reproducibility -- Sensors for Concentration Measurements in Aqueous Solutions -- Sensors for Organic Solvents -- Sensors for Salt Concentrations -- Sensors for Metal Ions Concentrations -- Summary -- References -- 152490_1_En_6_Chapter_OnlinePDF.pdf -- Chapter : Hydrogels for Biosensors -- Introduction -- Biosensor Devices -- Enzyme Biosensors -- Immobilization of Enzymes and Whole Cells Via Hydrogel Encapsulation -- Whole-Cell-Based Hydrogel Biosensors -- Amperometric Biosensors -- Redox Polymers -- Multi-Analyte Monitoring Devices -- Characterization of the Stability of Entrapped Enzymes -- Nanocalorimetry -- Smart Hydrogels for Biosensors -- Summary -- References -- 152490_1_En_7_Chapter_OnlinePDF.pdf -- Chapter : Hydrogels for Actuators -- Introduction -- Automatic Microfluidic Systems -- Hydrodynamic Transistors -- Directly Acting Hydrogel Component -- Hydrogel as Servo Drive -- Normally Closed and Normally Open Valves -- Mechanical Adjustability of the Regulation Point -- Fluidic Propulsion -- Chemostat Pumps -- Autonomous Pumps -- Tunable Micro-Lenses -- Microelectromechanical Microfluidic Systems. , Electrothermic and Optoelectrothermic Interface -- Microvalves -- Micropumps -- Diffusion Pumps -- Displacement Micropumps -- Hydrodynamic Microtransistors -- High Resolution Tactile Displays -- Influence of Material and Phase Transition Phenomena on the Operational Characteristics of Hydrogel Elements -- Effects at the Initialisation of Gel Elements -- Conditioning Effect -- Softening Effect -- Volume Change After Polymerisation -- Phenomena at the Volume Phase Transition of Gels -- Intrinsic Shrinkage Barrier Effect -- Extrinsic Shrinkage Barrier Effect -- Two-Step Mechanism of the Volume Phase Transition -- Screening Effect -- Material Enrichment Inside the Hydrogel -- Design and Performance -- Response Time -- Effective Diffusion Length -- Swelling Agent Supply -- Counterforces -- Recirculation of Process Media -- Pressure Resistance and Particle Tolerance -- References -- 152490_1_En_8_Chapter_OnlinePDF.pdf -- Chapter : Polymer Hydrogels to Enable New Medical Therapies -- Hydrogels in Biomedical Applications -- Thermo-Responsive Cell Culture Carriers -- Biohybrid Cell Scaffolds for In Vivo Tissue Engineering -- Summary and Perspective -- References -- 152490_1_En_BM2_OnlinePDF.pdf -- : Index.