POS8-1527
Multifunctional Amphiphilic Hydrogel Composites Reinforced with Natural Illite for Skin-Adhesive Biomedical Patches
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Hwain Lee (Konkuk University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
The development of multifunctional hydrogel materials possessing mechanical robustness, tissue adhesion, and biological functionality has become increasingly important for advanced biomedical applications. Herein, amphiphilic hydrogel composite patches containing illite, a naturally occurring clay mineral, were developed by incorporating fine illite particles into a UV-polymerized polymer network primarily composed of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA). The composite hydrogels were prepared by systematically controlling the content of hydrophobic components to tailor their structural and functional properties. The amphiphilic polymer network promoted effective hydration while maintaining mechanical integrity and conformal skin adhesion through the formation of hydrophobic domains derived from 2-EHA. Furthermore, the incorporation of illite particles reinforced the polymer network and imparted multiple biofunctional characteristics, including antibacterial activity, adsorption of wound-associated harmful substances, and ultraviolet shielding. The homogeneous dispersion of illite within the hydrogel matrix also contributed to improved structural stability without compromising flexibility. This inorganic–organic hybrid strategy offers a simple and scalable approach for fabricating multifunctional adhesive hydrogel composites. The developed illite-containing amphiphilic hydrogel patches exhibit significant potential as next-generation bioadhesive platforms for wound management and other skin-contact biomedical applications.
