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Antifreezing hydrogels: from mechanisms and strategies to applications

  1. Author:
    Zhang, Dong [ORCID]
    Chen, Hong [ORCID]
    Zhang, Yanxian
    Yang, Jintao
    Chen, Qiang [ORCID]
    Wu, Jiang [ORCID]
    Liu, Yonglan [ORCID]
    Zhao, Chao
    Tang, Yijing
    Zheng, Jie [ORCID]

  2. Author Address

    The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA., College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China., Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA., College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China., Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 352001, China., School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China., Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA., Deptartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA., Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio 44325, USA. zhengj@uakron.edu.,
    1. Year: 2025
    2. Date: May 21
    3. Epub Date: 2025 05 21
  2. Journal: Chemical Society Reviews
  4. Type of Article: Review
  1. Abstract:

    Antifreezing hydrogels have emerged as an innovative solution for maintaining functional performance and mechanical integrity in subzero environments, offering a robust alternative to traditional water-free antifreezing materials that often fail under wet and cold conditions. These water-rich hydrogels leverage their porous, crosslinked, polymeric networks, which serve as the structural basis for implementing two parallel strategies: the incorporation of antifreezing additives (peptides/proteins, salts, ionic liquids, and organics) and the meticulous engineering of polymer systems and network structures for manipulating the water-ice phase equilibrium to significantly enhance antifreezing properties. This review synthesizes recent findings to provide a fundamental overview of the important advancements in antifreezing hydrogels, focusing on their designs, mechanisms, performances, and functional applications. Various types of antifreezing hydrogels have been developed, utilizing strategies like the incorporation of antifreeze agents, use of strongly water-bound polymers, and design of highly crosslinked networks to illustrate different antifreezing mechanisms: freezing point depression, ice recrystallization inhibition, and network freezing inhibition. This review also explores the diverse functions of antifreezing hydrogels in biomedical devices, soft robotics, flexible electronics, food industry, and environmental engineering. Finally, this review concludes with future directions, emphasizing the potential of integrating machine learning and advanced molecular simulations into materials design. This strategic vision is aimed at promoting continuous innovation and progress in the rapidly evolving field of antifreezing hydrogels.

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External Sources

  1. View Full Text
  2. DOI: 10.1039/d4cs00718b
  3. PMID: 40395069

Library Notes

  1. Fiscal Year: FY2024-2025
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