| Abstract Scope |
Hydrogels have emerged as highly promising materials in biomedical applications, where compatibility with biological systems is a critical requirement. Triggerable hydrogels, characterized by the ability to control their swelling and deswelling behavior precisely, offer significant advantages as coatings and coverings for sensitive components interfacing with the human body. However, the broader adoption of hydrogels in soft robotics has been impeded by their inherent limitations in terms of mechanical strength, elasticity, stretchability, and moldability. To address these challenges, this study presents a novel dual-crosslinking hydrogel composed of interpenetrating networks of sodium alginate and acrylamide backbones. Notably, the polymerization process has been effectively controlled by separating the catalysts, enabling the attainment of moldability under ambient conditions. Remarkably, the resulting hydrogel exhibits outstanding stretchability and elasticity while maintaining its desirable swelling properties. Additionally, the stiffness of the synthesized hydrogels can be effectively tuned by adjusting the ratios of the backbones. |