Research Information System
SOFT MATTER, vol.5, no.21, pp.4077-4087, 2009 (SCI-Expanded)
In addition to a well-known capacity of the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique to create multilayers with strongly bound polymer chains, the technique also provides a unique opportunity to fabricate highly swollen, hydrogel-like films and capsules. Layered, ultrathin hydrogel-like membranes can be fabricated using electrostatically assembled or hydrogen-bonded multilayers as template matrices, or using a click chemistry approach. This review describes recent progress in the area, comparing various approaches used for the fabrication of these surface-mediated, LbL-templated structures, and discusses future applications of ultrathin hydrogel materials.