Jain Era, Zhang Kaixiang, Mishra Tiwari Ruchi
Department of Biomedical and Chemical engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States.
Bioinspired Syracuse: Institute for Material and Living System, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States.
ACS Omega. 2025 Aug 11;10(33):36771-36787. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.5c02863. eCollection 2025 Aug 26.
Cryogels are a distinct class of macroporous polymeric materials formed through cryopolymerization, where precursor monomers and polymers undergo polymerization and cross-linking under freezing conditions. Unlike conventional hydrogels, which exhibit nanoscale porosity and are synthesized at ambient temperatures, cryogels feature interconnected micrometer-sized pores that confer unique mechanical, structural, and functional properties. Their high porosity, rapid hydration, and efficient mass transport make them highly desirable for tissue engineering, biosensing, drug delivery, and environmental remediation applications. However, a critical challenge remains a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationships among synthesis parameters, microstructure, and functional performance. This review provides a systematic discussion of cryogel properties, with a focus on their mechanical resilience, biocompatibility, and shape recovery behavior. We examine recent advancements in characterization techniques, including in situ imaging, advanced rheological assessments, and machine learning-assisted porosity evaluation, which have significantly improved our ability to assess cryogel performance. Additionally, we review the biophysical characterization of cryogels composed of different polymer systems, elucidating structure-property correlations in pore architecture and cellular interactions. Expanding beyond traditional biomedical applications, we briefly describe the emerging potential of cryogels in biosensors, soft robotics, and environmental sustainability, emphasizing the importance of an integrated approach that links the structure to functional outcomes. By providing a detailed discussion of established and cutting-edge characterization methodologies, this perspective is a valuable resource for researchers striving to develop next-generation cryogels with precisely tailored properties for specialized applications.
冷冻凝胶是一类通过冷冻聚合形成的独特的大孔聚合物材料，在前体单体和聚合物在冷冻条件下发生聚合和交联。与在环境温度下合成的具有纳米级孔隙率的传统水凝胶不同，冷冻凝胶具有相互连接的微米级孔隙，赋予其独特的机械、结构和功能特性。它们的高孔隙率、快速水合作用和高效的质量传输使其在组织工程、生物传感、药物递送和环境修复应用中非常受欢迎。然而，一个关键挑战仍然是全面理解合成参数、微观结构和功能性能之间的复杂关系。本综述对冷冻凝胶的性质进行了系统讨论，重点关注其机械弹性、生物相容性和形状恢复行为。我们研究了表征技术的最新进展，包括原位成像、先进的流变学评估和机器学习辅助的孔隙率评估，这些进展显著提高了我们评估冷冻凝胶性能的能力。此外，我们回顾了由不同聚合物系统组成的冷冻凝胶的生物物理表征，阐明了孔隙结构和细胞相互作用中的结构-性能相关性。除了传统的生物医学应用，我们简要描述了冷冻凝胶在生物传感器、软机器人和环境可持续性方面的新兴潜力，强调了将结构与功能结果联系起来的综合方法的重要性。通过对已建立的和前沿的表征方法进行详细讨论，这一观点为致力于开发具有精确定制特性以用于特定应用的下一代冷冻凝胶的研究人员提供了宝贵的资源。
