Nanoparticle diffusive transport in hydrogels

Abstract Hydrogels play a critical role in a wide and expanding range of applications, including drug delivery and biofilm formation in the biomedical sciences, cooling and lubrication in industrial processes, and pollution and microplastic remediation in environmental engineering. In many of these applications, transport of nanoparticles within the hydrogels is a key part of the hydrogel application. The current review article focuses on understanding and prediction of the diffusive processes that govern nanoparticle transport in hydrogels. We first discuss the types of nanoparticles typically used in hydrogel applications, followed by an examination of the physics of nanoparticle diffusion in hydrogels. We then provide a detailed review of methods to enhance nanoparticle diffusion in hydrogels, including use of ultrasound and oscillating magnetic fields.