[Thermoreactive hydrogels in biotechnology and medicine]

Abstract

The properties of thermoreactive hydrogels (TH), i.e., hydrogels formed by polymers which exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behaviour in aqueous solutions, are discussed. TH shrink drastically and lose water on heating at temperatures close to LCST resulting in gel collapse. This process is reversible, and TH swell again to their initial size. TH can be successfully used for concentrating suspensions and protein solutions, for immobilization of biocatalysts, in drug delivery systems and in biosensors.