Polysaccharide-Based\nDouble-Network Hydrogels: Polysaccharide\nEffect, Strengthening Mechanisms, and Applications

Abstract

Polysaccharides are carbohydrate polymers that are major\ncomponents\nof plants, animals, and microorganisms, with unique properties. Biological\nhydrogels are polymeric networks that imbibe and retain large amounts\nof water and are the major components of living organisms. The mechanical\nproperties of hydrogels are critical for their functionality and applications.\nSince synthetic polymeric double-network (DN) hydrogels possess unique\nnetwork structures with high and tunable mechanical properties, many\nnatural functional polysaccharides have attracted increased attention\ndue to their rich and convenient sources, unique chemical structure\nand chain conformation, inherently desirable cytocompatibility, biodegradability\nand environmental friendliness, diverse bioactivities, and rheological\nproperties, which rationally make them prominent constituents in designing\nvarious strong and tough polysaccharide-based DN hydrogels over the\npast ten years. This review focuses on the latest developments of\npolysaccharide-based DN hydrogels to comprehend the relationship among\nthe polysaccharide properties, inner strengthening mechanisms, and\napplications. The aim of this review is to provide an insightful mechanical\ninterpretation of the design strategy of novel polysaccharide-based\nDN hydrogels and their applications by introducing the correlation\nbetween performance and composition. The mechanical behavior of DN\nhydrogels and the roles of varieties of marine, microbial, plant,\nand animal polysaccharides are emphatically explained.