Self-healing cellulose-based hydrogels: From molecular design to multifarious applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Cellulose-based hydrogels (SHCHs) possess unique physicochemical properties and biocompatibility.
• These materials are gaining attention for diverse applications in medicine, environmental management, energy, and smart materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of self-healing cellulose-based hydrogels (SHCHs).
• To explore molecular design principles, performance optimization strategies, and diverse applications of SHCHs.
• To outline future research directions for advancing SHCH technology.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of cellulose molecular structure and physicochemical properties.
• Review of strategies for imparting self-healing capabilities through molecular design.
• Discussion of performance enhancement methods including chemical modification and composite reinforcement.
• Exploration of applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, sensing, energy storage, and separation technologies.

Main Results:

• SHCHs can be designed with tailored self-healing mechanisms.
• Performance optimization is achievable through various chemical and physical modification techniques.
• SHCHs demonstrate broad applicability across multiple scientific and technological domains.

Conclusions:

• SHCHs represent a promising class of materials with significant potential.
• Further research into novel SHCH development, mechanism elucidation, and intelligent systems is warranted.
• This review serves as a valuable reference for researchers in the field of advanced hydrogel materials.