SPP 1259: Intelligent Hydrogels

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Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymer networks. They are able to absorb an amount of water which is many times bigger than their own weight. Because of that fact they can be very often found in nature, e.g. in plant or animal tissues. But they are also gaining increasing importance for applications in various other fields, like in chemical engineering, biotechnology, and for medical applications. They are already well-known for applications as so-called superabsorbers in diapers or as contact-lens material. However, hydrogels can not only retain water but they also have the potential to act as intelligent materials.