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. 2022 Dec 1;23(23):15134. doi: 10.3390/ijms232315134

Table 1.

Formation mechanisms of polymer hydrogels.

Polymer Network Type Gelation Means Mechanisms or Agents Involved
Chemical networks Chemically induced free radical polymerization Thermal initiation
Redox initiation
Photo (UV) initiation
Radiation induced free radical polymerization γ-radiation
Electron beam radiation
Non-polymerizable cross-linking agents Ethylenediamine tetraacetic dianhydride
Citric acid anhydride
Glutaraldehyde
Ethylenediamine
Epichlorohydrin
Urea
Physical networks Electrostatic interactions Multivalent metal ions (Ca2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Ba2+, Al3+, Fe3+)
Polyelectrolytes
Semi-interpenetrating network Chain entanglements via hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals interactions