Strategies to improve the response rate of thermosensitive hydrogels

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel is one of the most extensively studied thermosensitive hydrogels, it displays a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at around 33 °C in aqueous solution and undergoes an abrupt thermoreversible change in volume as the external temperature cycles around this critical temperature. The fast response rate of hydrogels is critically important in some applications, such as artificial organs, actuators, and on-off switches. In this article, we review different strategies, including physical and chemical strategies, for improving the response kinetics of PNIPAAm-based hydrogels. Based on the numerous strategies, the factors that are essential to achieve the fast response rate are identified.