Hydrogels: their future, Part I.

Hydrogels can be made from a wide variety of water-interactive or water-soluble polymers. They comprise a large family of materials with diverse properties, including some with "smart" responses to their environment. Part I of this two-part article will address the range of biomaterial syntheses, properties and applications that can be obtained from one ubiquitous and biocompatible structure: poly(ethylene oxide). Part II will discuss the applications of a novel class of intelligent materials.