Recent Development in the Visualization of Microgels

Hydrogel microspheres (microgels) are water-swollen, soft colloidal particles composed of cross-linked hydrophilic or amphiphilic polymer chains. Due to their fascinating properties such as biocompatibility, colloidal stability, and rapid stimulus responsivity, microgels are expected to find numerous applications in a wide variety of fields. The understanding and development of microgels with colloidal-sized dimensions has been propelled in particular by visualization techniques. Their history and recent progress in microgel evaluation using such visualization techniques are summarized in this review. Hydrogel microspheres (microgels) are water-swollen, soft colloidal particles composed of cross-linked hydrophilic or amphiphilic polymer chains. The understanding and development of microgels with colloidal-sized dimensions has been propelled in particular by visualization techniques. Their history and recent progress in microgel evaluation using such visualization techniques are summarized in this review.