This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Stimuli-Responsive Gels" that was published in Gels

This book introduces recent progress in stimuli-responsive interfaces constructed on colloidal materials such as micelles and vesicles and on solid material surfaces. There is discussion of the effect of stimuli such as light, heat, pH, and electric field on changes in the morphology of the molecules at the interfaces and that of colloidal materials. The changes in the properties, such as gelation ability, dispersibility, and emulsification ability, of the resultant bulk materials containing these colloidal materials or those of the solid material are also covered. In addition, design criteria for high sensitivity, quick responsiveness, and high reversibility are presented. In each author’s original system, the correlations between molecular-level responses and bulk functional responses are described as well. This book serves as an excellent guide to designing and fabricating novel, functional, eco-friendly stimuli-responsive interfaces and related materials.

The ability for a material to change properties in response to external stimuli is an attractive feature for numerous applications and as such stimuli responsive materials are gaining attention across many different fields. This book introduces the concepts of stimuli-responsiveness, including the fundamental materials properties required for design. It provides readers with comprehensive scientific principles and developments of stimuli responsive materials, as well as the recent technological advances. Written by a renowned expert in the field, this book is suitable for anyone interested in stimuli responsive materials working in polymers, biochemistry, biotechnology and materials science.

There is much recent interest in the field of molecular gels because of their potential use in many different applications, including biomedicine and electronic materials. Functional Molecular Gels details the latest research on molecular gels from the fundamentals of molecular gel formation to their uses in a variety of fields. This book introduces the key concepts of designing molecular gels and their characterisation techniques, followed by chapters discussing different stimuli-responsive systems. Specific chapters are then dedicated to their diverse range of applications, including catalysis, tissue engineering, photonic materials and as templates for nanostructured materials. Written by active researchers in the area, this book gives a taste of the possibilities that molecular gels offer for those both new to and already working in the area.

Most drugs are toxic to cells that often kill healthy cells and establish several side effects. Conventional chemotherapy cargoes are not tumor-specific and commonly their nature leads to significant toxic effects on healthy tissues. Therefore, several drug delivery systems (DDSs) were developed to amend the therapeutic properties of drugs and made them safer and more effective. Local drug delivery which decreases systemic drug exposure, is an important approach for maximal efficacy, high levels of patient compliance, and fewer side effects. Smart drug delivery systems (SDDSs) have gained much attention and paved the way for more effective treatment of patients. SDDSs with stimuli-responsive characteristics are determined as the process that the payloads are not released before reaching the target site. This triggered release occurs due to the variations in the nano/microcarrier chemistry and structure, in response to endogenous and/or exogenous stimulus, establishing the release of the cargoes to the exact place. Responsive and smart materials/biomaterials are responsive/sensitive to signals originating from physiological systems, or to abnormalities originating from pathological defects, that can interact with or be triggered by the biological environments, and are interesting in drug delivery platforms/devices for developing next-generation accurate medicines. In exogenous-triggered delivery, drug/gene release is controlled by external stimulus, which can be controlled exactly. Different exogenous triggers have been reported, such as light, magnetic field, temperature, electrical field, and ultrasound. The endogenous triggers such as pH, redox, enzyme concentration, and bio-molecules are related to the disease's pathological characteristics. Disease pathological characteristics are key parameters as physiological triggers for designing programmed delivery devices that may be used for the non-invasive and effective treatment of a wide range of pathological conditions such as cancer, infections, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disorders, stroke, and chronic wounds, and degenerative diseases. Endogenously triggered drug release is the same as exogenously triggered drug release, which can lead to enhanced release of therapeutic molecules at the target place in its therapeutic concentration, reducing local toxicity and side effects, reducing the need for repeat administrations, and increasing patient compliance. Here, we focused on smart endogenous and exogenous stimuli-responsive biomaterials for programmed drug delivery. The conventional drug delivery systems are not without any limitations and challenges. One of the most important challenges is related to their degradability or insufficient biocompatibility of most materials which are used in smart delivery system. Another challenge is related to the using of 2D in vitro models or in vivo animal studies to evaluate the performance of these systems, and there is a poor relation between such results and human clinical trials. Thus, these incompatibilities can lead to the failing of the numerous smart systems in clinical studies. In this special issue, we focus on smart multi-responsive drug delivery systems that can address some challenges and drawbacks. Research paper, commutation (letter), mini-review and review are acceptable for publications in this special issue. Main topics: 1- Smart exogenous-triggered delivery systems 2- Smart endogenous-triggered delivery systems 3- Multi-responsive targeted vehicles 4- Stimuli-responsive niosomes and liposomes 5- Multifunctional biomaterials for cancer treatment 6- Smart 3D and 4D scaffolds for localized delivery systems

Adopting a broad approach, this volume provides the scientific community with a much-needed overview of developments and scientific findings in stimuli-responsive materials. Its primary focus is on the designing, synthesizing, formulating, and processing of materials that lead to an understanding of the scientific principles governing response driven functions leading to future technologies. The highly experienced and internationally renowned editor has assembled a team of leading scientists from the interdisciplinary areas of: * polymers * biopolymers * biochemistry * biophysics * biomaterials * bioengineering * materials engineering * biotechnology * chemistry * physics * ceramics * metals * and materials science. A combination that guarantees a unique and high-quality handbook.

There has been concerted effort across scientific disciplines to develop artificial materials and systems that can help researchers understand natural stimuli-responsive activities. With its up-to-date coverage on intelligent stimuli-responsive materials, Intelligent Stimuli-Responsive Materials provides research, industry, and academia professionals with the fundamentals and principles of intelligent stimuli-responsive materials, with a focus on methods and applications. Emphasizing nanostructures and applications for a broad range of fields, each chapter comprehensively covers a different stimuli-responsive material and discusses its developments, advances, challenges, analytical techniques, and applications.

Stimuli Responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery Applications, Volume One: Types and Triggers discusses, in detail, the recent trends in designing biodegradable and biocompatible single-responsive polymers and nanoparticles for safe drug delivery. Focusing on the most advanced materials and technologies, evaluation methods, and advanced synthesis techniques stimuli-responsive polymers, the book is an essential reference for scientists with an interest in drug delivery vehicles. Sections focus on innovation, development and the increased global demand for biodegradable and biocompatible responsive polymers and nanoparticles for safe drug delivery. - Offers an in-depth look at the basic and fundamental aspects of alternative stimuli-responsive polymers, mechanisms, structure, synthesis and properties - Provides a well-defined categorization for stimuli-responsive polymers for drug delivery based on different triggering mechanisms - Discusses novel approaches and challenges for scaling up and commercialization of stimuli-responsive polymers

Smart Stimuli-Responsive Poymers, Films, and Gels Discover the most important developments in synthesis, simulation, and applications of a fascinating compound class There exist a range of natural materials that respond to environmental changes by altering their physical or chemical properties, known as stimuli-responsive polymers, these substances are responsive to light, temperature, pressure, and more. The study of these so-called “smart” polymers is essential to a range of application fields, many of which have generated cutting-edge research in recent decades. A comprehensive introduction to the subject is therefore well-timed Smart Stimuli-Responsive Polymers, Films, and Gels provides an introduction to these polymers and their applications. It includes producing these polymers through synthetic approaches, simulating their responses to different stimuli, and applying these materials in different industries and research capacities. Written to serve the requirements of advanced students and senior researchers alike, this timely work will drive years of research in this vital field. In Smart Stimuli-Responsive Polymers, Films, and Gels readers will also find: Treatment of mechanoresponsive, photoresponsive, and ionizing-radiation responsive polymers Applications in emerging fields such as sensors, biomedicine, catalysis, and more Interdisciplinary research into the properties and responses of these vital compounds Smart Stimuli-Responsive Polymers, Films, and Gels promises to become a seminal work for chemists, materials scientists, and industrial researchers seeking to incorporate these materials into a variety of industrial and research areas.

This book covers fundamental aspects in the preparation of polymeric in-situ, stimuli-responsive hydrogels; the properties, characterization, chemistry, and fabrication of these hydrogels is detailed, helping the reader to select the most appropriate material and design for the desired application. The book goes on to review applications in ophthalmic drug delivery, covering in vitro and in vivo models, animal models, preclinical testing, patents and more. Stimuli-responsive Hydrogels for Ophthalmic Drug Delivery is a must-have reference for researchers and academics in the fields of materials science, biomaterials, pharmacology and polymer science, with an interest in clinical aspects of hydrogel design and application. - Provides step-by-step coverage for engineering in-situ and stimuli-responsive hydrogels, from design, characterization, and toxicity considerations to fabrication, process optimization, and drug release kinetics - Utilizes an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together authors from pharmacology, polymer science, and medical backgrounds - Details the advantages and challenges of using stimuli-responsive hydrogels for ophthalmic drug delivery, with a focus on clinical translation