Tuning the gelation of thermoresponsive gels

•Systematic studies of thermoresponsive gels are discussed.•Clear trends on how the thermoresponsive ability can be tailored are identified.•Tailoring the gelation can only be achieved with polymers with narrow dispersity.

Thermoresponsive gels are exciting polymeric materials with many biomedical applications in medical devices, drug delivery, tissue engineering and bio-printing. Also, they have great potential to be used in 3-D printing and thus in the fabrication of many different devices and materials. As it is crucial for the application of these gels to be able to control and tailor the gelation temperature and concentration this was the main focus and point of discussion of this feature article. Thus, it is discussed in detail how by varying the molar mass, composition, stereochemistry and architecture the thermoresponsive properties of these gels are altered.

Graphical abstractIn this manuscript the main design criteria of the polymers that influence the gelation of thermoresponsive gels are identified and summarised.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide