Strategies for the synthesis of poly(2-oxazoline)-based hydrogels

Poly(2-oxazoline)-based networks currently receive great interest due to their versatile properties that can be tailor made by desktop-planned modifications. This feature summarizes strategies for the preparation of these networks, comprising the in situ cross-linking as well as polymer-analogous cross-linking routines such as (reversible) complex formation, physical processes, and covalent bond formation (involving reactions with olefinic species as well as with epoxides, isocyanates, aldehydes, acids, and their derivatives). Reflecting prominent application examples in the biomedic(in)al sector, poly(2-oxazoline)-co-polyester networks are described in a dedicated section.