hydrogel
Noun: A hydrogel is a solid, jelly-like material that can contain a large amount of water but does not dissolve in it. It is a network of polymer chains that absorb and retain water within its structure.
Hydrogels are used in various applications where water retention and a soft, flexible structure are needed. * Medical dressings often use hydrogel to keep wounds moist. * Some contact lenses are made from a silicone hydrogel for breathability. * Researchers are developing a hydrogel that can deliver drugs slowly.
- As a modifier: The term can function attributively to describe other nouns related to its composition or use.
- Hydrogel patches are used for skincare.
- The hydrogel matrix provides a scaffold for growing cells.
- Hydrogels (plural noun): The plural form, referring to multiple instances or types of these materials.
- Superabsorbent polymer (SAP): A related material with extremely high water-absorption capacity, often a type of hydrogel.
The term "hydrogel" has a specific technical meaning in materials science and chemistry. It does not have widely recognized alternative common meanings.
- Aquagel
- Water-retaining polymer
- Polymer gel (more general term)
There are no common idioms using the word "hydrogel."
There are no phrasal verbs using the word "hydrogel."
- a colloidal gel in which water is the dispersion medium