Preface
Cryogelation is a simple strategy that allows the preparation of macroporous gels,
so-called cryogels, of high toughness and superfast responsivity. The term “cryogel”
was mentioned in the literature for the first time in 1984 by Vladimir I. Lozinsky to
designate polymeric gels formed in frozen media. Cryogels have attracted intense
attention in the last 10 years due to their extraordinary properties, which have
resulted in numerous biotechnological and biomedical applications. The present
volume entitled Polymeric Cryogels: Macroporous Gels with Remarkable Properties is intended to review the principles of cryotropic gelation processes as well as
the advances made during the past two decades in the preparation and application of
cryogels based on both synthetic and natural polymers. It is my great pleasure to
have Vladimir I. Lozinsky as one of the authors of this volume. I very much enjoyed
discussing many aspects of cryogels and some secrets of cryogelation processes with
him, both in Istanbul and at cryogenic temperatures in Moscow (Fig. 1).
The history of polymeric cryogels and mechanisms of their formation are
reviewed in the first chapter. Chapters “Basic Principles of Cryotropic Gelation”
and “Synthesis and Structure-Property Relationships of Cryogels” cover the basic
principles of cryotropic gelation, the synthesis–structure–property relationships of
cryogels, and some of their novel applications. Aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)
solutions form physical gels by cryogenic treatments, which are of great interest due
to their outstanding properties. Formation of PVA cryogels under various conditions
is discussed in detail in chapters “A Brief History of Polymeric Cryogels,” “Basic
Principles of Cryotropic Gelation,” “Kinetic Analysis of Cryotropic Gelation of
Poly(vinyl alcohol)/water solutions by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering,” and “Poly
(vinyl alcohol) Cryogels for Biomedical Applications.” The structure of PVA
cryogels and the principal processes taking place during their formation are
discussed in chapter “Kinetic Analysis of Cryotropic Gelation of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/water solutions by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering”. An effective method for
the synthesis of polymer cryogels is the initiation of cryogelation reactions using UV
irradiation, which is reviewed in chapter “Cryogels via UV Irradiation”.
Chapter “Inorganic Cryogels” covers recent advances in inorganic cryogels. I have
to mention that, although the term “inorganic cryogel” has been used as the generic
v
Cryogelation is a simple strategy that allows the preparation of macroporous gels,
so-called cryogels, of high toughness and superfast responsivity. The term “cryogel”
was mentioned in the literature for the first time in 1984 by Vladimir I. Lozinsky to
designate polymeric gels formed in frozen media. Cryogels have attracted intense
attention in the last 10 years due to their extraordinary properties, which have
resulted in numerous biotechnological and biomedical applications. The present
volume entitled Polymeric Cryogels: Macroporous Gels with Remarkable Properties is intended to review the principles of cryotropic gelation processes as well as
the advances made during the past two decades in the preparation and application of
cryogels based on both synthetic and natural polymers. It is my great pleasure to
have Vladimir I. Lozinsky as one of the authors of this volume. I very much enjoyed
discussing many aspects of cryogels and some secrets of cryogelation processes with
him, both in Istanbul and at cryogenic temperatures in Moscow (Fig. 1).
The history of polymeric cryogels and mechanisms of their formation are
reviewed in the first chapter. Chapters “Basic Principles of Cryotropic Gelation”
and “Synthesis and Structure-Property Relationships of Cryogels” cover the basic
principles of cryotropic gelation, the synthesis–structure–property relationships of
cryogels, and some of their novel applications. Aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)
solutions form physical gels by cryogenic treatments, which are of great interest due
to their outstanding properties. Formation of PVA cryogels under various conditions
is discussed in detail in chapters “A Brief History of Polymeric Cryogels,” “Basic
Principles of Cryotropic Gelation,” “Kinetic Analysis of Cryotropic Gelation of
Poly(vinyl alcohol)/water solutions by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering,” and “Poly
(vinyl alcohol) Cryogels for Biomedical Applications.” The structure of PVA
cryogels and the principal processes taking place during their formation are
discussed in chapter “Kinetic Analysis of Cryotropic Gelation of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/water solutions by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering”. An effective method for
the synthesis of polymer cryogels is the initiation of cryogelation reactions using UV
irradiation, which is reviewed in chapter “Cryogels via UV Irradiation”.
Chapter “Inorganic Cryogels” covers recent advances in inorganic cryogels. I have
to mention that, although the term “inorganic cryogel” has been used as the generic
v