Polymer Gels: Fundamentals and Biomedical Applications

Fundamentals.- Characterization of Gel Structure by Means of SAXS and SANS.- Physical Gelation of Synthetic and Biological Macromolecules.- Effects of Shear Modulus of Polymer Gels.- Interaction between Solvent Molecules and Networks in Biogels -Viscoelasticity, Strength.- Synthesis and Properties of Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Gels by the Sol-Gel Process.- Biologicals.- Excitation Process and Swelling of Nerve Fibers.- Cytoskeletons Are Functionally Differentiated in the Squid Giant Axon.- Synthetic Vitreous Body of PVA Hydrogel.- Immobilization of Bioactive Substances with PVA Supports.- Electric Modulation of Polymer Gel Contraction and Animal Cell Proliferation.- Separation.- Separation of Organic Solvent/Water Mixtures by Acrylamide Gel Membrane Supported by Silica-Alumina Porous Membrane.- Permeation Mechanism for a Thermo-Sensitive Switching-Functional Composite Membrane of Porous Glass and Hydrogel.- Gel Dewatering Process for Biological Slurry.- Sensors and Actuators.- A Polymer Composite Showing Electrocontractile Response.- Conversion of Chemical into Mechanical Energy by Synthetic Polymer Gels (Chemomechanical System).- Amphoteric Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel and Electrohydrodynamic Control Method for Artificial Muscles.- Deformation Behaviors of Polymer Gels in Electric Field.- Thermoresponsive Polymer Hydrogel.- Contraction Behavior of Poly(acrylonitrile) Gel Fibers.- Measuring Contact Stress with 19F-NMR Spectroscopy.- Drug Delivery System.- Conventional and Environmentally-Sensitive Hydrogels for Medical and Industrial Uses.- Thermo-Responsive Polymeric Hydrogels and Their Application to Pulsatile Drug Release.- Hydrophobic Weak Polybasic Gels: Factors Controling Swelling Equilibria.- Diffusion-Reaction through Coated Gel Containing Enzyme Effects of Asymmetry and Sol-Gel Transition.