Blog
12
2025
-
05
Difference between hydrogel and microgel
The main differences between hydrogels and microgels lie in their chemical composition, morphology, water absorption capacity, and applications.
Chemical Composition and Morphology
Hydrogels: Typically made from water-soluble polymeric materials such as acrylic acid and acrylates; the dispersion medium must be water. Water molecules bind to the polymer network through hydrogen bonds or chemical bonds, forming a soft material with high water content (water content can reach over 90%).
Microgels: Usually made from polymeric materials such as sodium polyacrylate or potassium polyacrylate. Their morphology is spherical or honeycomb-like, with a large surface area, allowing them to adsorb organic molecules and ions.
Water Absorption Capacity and Applications
Hydrogels: Possess strong water absorption capacity, absorbing 10 to 1000 times their own weight in water. They are widely used in biomedicine (such as wound dressings, drug delivery vehicles, tissue engineering scaffolds), personal care products (such as moisturizing masks, contact lenses), and agriculture (such as water retention agents, soil improvers).
Microgels: Cannot absorb water, but their large surface area and ease of surface modification make them suitable for dye adsorption and wastewater treatment.
Preparation Methods
Hydrogels: Usually prepared through crosslinking of natural or synthetic polymers, such as the crosslinking of sodium alginate with calcium ions, or the chemical polymerization of polyacrylamide. The crosslinking density needs to be controlled to adjust the water content.
Microgels: As micrometer-sized hydrogels, they can be prepared through classic polymerization and processing methods and are often used in engineering cell microenvironments and simulating tissue diversity.
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Difference between hydrogel and microgel
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