Figure 27. Design of self-healing hydrogels – form crosslinks and/or polymers at damaged regions.

a. reversible crosslinks form on the interfaces between two pieces of hydrogels for self-healing or selfadhesion. b. damage of a hydrogel induces new polymerization and crosslinking, giving self-reinforcement or self-growth⁸⁵³. c. photos of a self-healing hydrogel based on oppositely charged polyelectrolytes^481,854. d. photos of a self-reinforcing or self-growing hydrogel⁸⁵³. b and d are adopted from Ref⁸⁵³. c is adopted from Ref⁸⁵⁴.