Hydrogel-based fabrication and its application utilizing the functionality and property-tunability of hydrogels

Abstract

Hydrogels are materials formed by the physical or chemical crosslinking of hydrophilic polymers, which acquire diverse functionalities based on their composition. By adjusting properties such as flexibility, stretchability, shrinkage, and expansion, functional hydrogels can be synthesized, enabling their use in various hydrogel-based fabrication. This dissertation presents the application of these functional and tunable properties of hydrogels in different fields. We introduce a technique for inserting chemical patterns onto the curved surfaces of hydrogels and implementing the attachment of functional materials to these patterns. Additionally, we utilize the shrinkage property of hydrogels to repeatedly shrink 3D-printed structures, allowing for the production of more refined structures in various sizes and materials. Furthermore, we demonstrate the creation of complex assembled structures through macroscopic and selective self-assembly between hydrogel blocks.