New insights into nanocomposite hydrogels; a review on recent advances in characteristics and applications

The study of nanocomposite hydrogels in their various scientific areas has grown remarkably along the years with emergence of various theoretical and experimental techniques. Therefore, this review is categorized to provide a comprehensive guide on the fabrication of nanocomposite hydrogels. In this regard, the type and amounts of nanomaterial, and the hydrogel network formation have a significant impact on the improvement of physical, chemical, and biological properties of hydrogels. It has to be noted that these parameters are dependent on the application of nanocomposite hydrogels.

Therefore, the orientation of the range of nanomaterials, product characteristics, along with sufficient information on the application of these materials, need to be considered to obtain a successful material.

In this review article, the scientific advances in the field of nanocomposite hydrogels, focusing on their types based on the nanoparticle types, and their properties with a new perspective on rheology, self-healing behavior, thermal stability, biologic, and morphology are investigated. Eventually, the applicability of these materials is collected in a comprehensive table in various fields such as biomedical, enhanced oil recovery, agriculture, etc. for the first time presents comparisons with more details.