Chemical hydrogels are commonly prepared in two dif- ferent ways: ‘three-dimensional polymerization’ (Fig. 1), in which a hydrophilic monomer is polymerized in the pres- ence of a polyfunctional cross-linking agent, or by direct cross-linking of water-soluble polymers (Fig. 2). Polymeri- zation is usually initiated by free-radical generating com- pounds such as benzoyl peroxide, 2,2-azo-isobutyronitrile (AIBN), and ammonium peroxodisulphate or by using UV-, gamma- or electron beam-radiation. However, three-dimensional polymerization often results in materi- als containing significant levels of residual monomers and therefore purification of these materials has to be per- formed thoroughly because the unreacted monomers are often toxic and could leach out from the hydrogels contin- uously. The purification of hydrogels containing residual monomers is typically performed by extraction into excess water, and can take up to several weeks to be completed
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