Gels: Swelling, Deformation, and Applications

This lecture covers the properties and behavior of gels, focusing on hydrogels and microgels. It discusses the swelling process of hydrogels, the deformation of elastomers, and the applications of gels in drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering. The lecture also explores the shear modulus, free energy, and the crosslinking of hydrogels. Additionally, it delves into the types of polyelectrolytes, the assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayers, and the structure of polyelectrolyte multilayers. The lecture concludes with a discussion on the responsive behavior of hydrogels, including temperature-responsive and pH-responsive hydrogels, as well as the use of microgels as delivery vehicles and in 3D printing.