Magnetic-responsive hydrogels as composite smart materials: preparation, applications and challenges
4 affiliations
- 1School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology Qingdao 266520 China [email protected].
- 2College of Aerospace and Mechanical, Shandong University of Aeronautics Binzhou 256600 China.
- 3Quanzhou University of Information Engineering Quanzhou 362000 China.
- 4Hisense Refrigerator Co., Ltd Qingdao 266700 China.
Abstract
Magnetic-responsive hydrogels (MRHs) combine hydrogel networks with magnetic particles, enabling remote actuation, magnetothermal conversion, and multifunctional responses. However, their performance is highly dependent on particle composition, size, loading, dispersion, particle-polymer interactions, crosslinking density, and fabrication conditions, making their design and characterization complex. Moreover, systematic relationships among preparation, interfacial modification, structure-property regulation, and application performance remain insufficiently understood. To address these issues, this review summarizes the preparation, modification, properties, and applications of MRHs from a preparation-interface-property-application perspective. Firstly, soft- and hard-magnetic hydrogels are classified and compared. Next, blending, in situ precipitation, and covalent bonding are discussed with emphasis on particle dispersion, retention, interfacial stability, and mechanical performance. Furthermore, surface modification, mechanical reinforcement, and the effects of particle characteristics, loading, and crosslinking density on magnetic, swelling, mechanical, magnetothermal, and biological properties are analyzed. Finally, applications in biomedicine, environmental remediation, actuation and sensing, and emerging engineering fields are reviewed together with challenges in nanoparticle leakage, fatigue, magnetic-field dosimetry, biodegradation, reproducibility, sterilization, and scale-up. Overall, this review provides guidance for the rational design and practical development of MRHs.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026magneticresponsive,
title = {{Magnetic-responsive hydrogels as composite smart materials: preparation, applications and challenges}},
author = {Meng Zhang and Xin Cui and Yanbin Zhang and Jian Zhang and Zongxu Chen and Xuesong Chang and Xing Zhao and Mingzheng Liu and Changhe Li},
journal = {RSC advances},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1039/d6ra08388a},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13725766},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Magnetic-responsive hydrogels as composite smart materials: preparation, applications and challenges
AU - Meng Zhang
AU - Xin Cui
AU - Yanbin Zhang
AU - Jian Zhang
AU - Zongxu Chen
AU - Xuesong Chang
AU - Xing Zhao
AU - Mingzheng Liu
AU - Changhe Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - RSC advances
DO - 10.1039/d6ra08388a
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13725766
AB - Magnetic-responsive hydrogels (MRHs) combine hydrogel networks with magnetic particles, enabling remote actuation, magnetothermal conversion, and multifunctional responses. However, their performance is highly dependent on particle composition, size, loading, dispersion, particle-polymer interactions, crosslinking density, and fabrication conditions, making their design and characterization complex. Moreover, systematic relationships among preparation, interfacial modification, structure-property regulation, and application performance remain insufficiently understood. To address these issues, this review summarizes the preparation, modification, properties, and applications of MRHs from a preparation-interface-property-application perspective. Firstly, soft- and hard-magnetic hydrogels are classified and compared. Next, blending, in situ precipitation, and covalent bonding are discussed with emphasis on particle dispersion, retention, interfacial stability, and mechanical performance. Furthermore, surface modification, mechanical reinforcement, and the effects of particle characteristics, loading, and crosslinking density on magnetic, swelling, mechanical, magnetothermal, and biological properties are analyzed. Finally, applications in biomedicine, environmental remediation, actuation and sensing, and emerging engineering fields are reviewed together with challenges in nanoparticle leakage, fatigue, magnetic-field dosimetry, biodegradation, reproducibility, sterilization, and scale-up. Overall, this review provides guidance for the rational design and practical development of MRHs.
SN - 2046-2069
ER -