ABSTRACT
Smart hydrogel systems with diverse structurally and chemically reactive components display reaction to outer stimuli containing magnetic fields, pH, ionic concentration, chemicals, temperature, electrical fields, and light. In reaction to outer physical and/or chemical stimuli, reactive hydrogels have the capability to alter their transparency, amount, or other properties. The competence of hydrogel utilization—for example, tissue engineering scaffolds, artificial muscles, and soft actuators—is dictated by important parameters of smart hydrogels which consist of interactive properties containing reactive degree and rate along with mechanical characteristics—for example, breaking strength, Young’s modulus, and toughness. In this chapter, the advancement of nanocomposite smart hydrogels, which can attain enhanced mechanical characteristics and receptiveness, is presented. First, by disabling inorganic or organic nanomaterials through cross-linking or merging, the fabrication attempts for building nanocomposite networks are established. After that, the methods utilized to enhance both receptiveness as well as mechanical characteristics of hydrogel reactiveness are debated. Finally, the perspectives along the current challenges of such responsiveness of nanocomposite hydrogels are addressed.
