- Published: October 2023
- Pages: 274
- Tables: 67
- Figures: 65
The Global Market for Hydrogels 2024-2034 provides a comprehensive analysis of the global hydrogel landscape, technologies, companies, and applications across major industry verticals. It examines market drivers, trends, revenues, SWOT analyses, and hydrogel products across healthcare, water management, agriculture, construction, electronics, energy, and more.
The report profiles over 70 leading companies developing innovative hydrogel technologies and products. It covers natural and synthetic hydrogel chemistries, smart hydrogels, self-healing hydrogels, conductive hydrogels, 4D printing, and emerging chemistries.
Detailed application segments analyze hydrogels for wound care, drug delivery, medical implants, biosensors, flexible electronics, batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, self-healing concrete, lubricants, agriculture, food packaging, and water purification. Regional and global market forecasts are provided.
This study serves as a strategic guide for companies and investors looking to capitalize on the major growth opportunities for hydrogels across a diverse set of high-potential markets and applications. Report contents include:
- Overview of hydrogel properties, classifications, synthesis methods, formulations
- Analysis of natural vs synthetic hydrogels, emerging chemistries
- Smart hydrogels: thermosensitive, pH-sensitive, self-healing, shape memory
- Advanced hydrogels: luminescent, nanomaterial-based, 3D/4D printed
- Hydrogel market size, growth forecasts across industries: healthcare, water, agriculture, construction, electronics, energy, sensors, membranes
- Healthcare applications: wound care, drug delivery, implants, tissue engineering, cosmetics, biosensors
- Water purification methods: adsorption, solar evaporation, filtration, magnetics
- Agriculture uses: fertilizers, soil amendments, livestock feed, seed coatings
- Construction applications: self-healing concrete, thermal management, humidity control
- Flexible electronics uses: batteries, supercapacitors, printed circuits, transistors
- Energy applications: battery electrodes & electrolytes, fuel cell membranes, solar cells
- Sensors and membrane applications: chemical separation, bioreactors, drug delivery
- Profiles of 70+ leading companies developing innovative hydrogel technologies and products. Companies profiled include AmacaThera, Amferia AB, Boston Scientific, Hydrogel Concrete Solutions, Nexgel, Polyrizon Ltd, PneumoNIX, Surge Therapeutics, and Ventrix Bio.
- SWOT analysis examining strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for hydrogels in major application markets
- Growth drivers, trends, and challenges in key hydrogel application areas
1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 17
2 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 18
3 INTRODUCTION 19
- 3.1 What are hydrogels? 19
- 3.1.1 Structure 20
- 3.1.1.1 Hybrid hydrogels 21
- 3.1.1.1.1 Nanocomposite hydrogels 21
- 3.1.1.1.2 Macromolecular microsphere composite (MMC) hydrogels 21
- 3.1.1.1.3 Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPN) hydrogels 22
- 3.1.1.1.4 Double-network (DN) hydrogels 22
- 3.1.2 Classification 22
- 3.1.2.1 Based on source 23
- 3.1.2.2 Based on composition 23
- 3.1.2.3 Based on configuration 24
- 3.1.2.4 Based on crosslinking 24
- 3.1.2.5 Size 24
- 3.1.2.5.1 Microgels 24
- 3.1.2.5.2 Nanogels 25
- 3.1.2.6 Environmental response 26
- 3.1.2.7 Degradability 26
- 3.1.3 Formulations 27
- 3.1.4 Benefits of hydrogels 27
- 3.2 Synthesis of hydrogels 28
- 3.2.1 Chemical Crosslinking 31
-
- 3.2.1.1 Via monomers 32
- 3.2.1.2 Via polymers 33
- 3.2.1.3 Enzymatic crosslinking 33
-
- 3.2.2 Physical Crosslinking 34
- 3.2.1 Chemical Crosslinking 31
- 3.3 Molecular toolkits 36
- 3.4 Natural vs synthetic 36
- 3.5 Natural polymers 37
- 3.5.1 Cellulose 38
- 3.5.2 Alginate 39
- 3.5.3 Agarose 39
- 3.5.4 Carrageenan 40
- 3.5.5 Chitosan 40
- 3.5.6 Collagen 41
- 3.5.7 Dextran 41
- 3.5.8 Hyaluronic acid 42
- 3.5.9 Lignin 42
- 3.5.10 Engineered living materials (ELMs) 44
- 3.5.10.1 Description 44
- 3.5.10.2 Benefits 44
- 3.5.10.3 Bio ELM vs hybrid ELM 45
- 3.5.10.4 Funghi - mycelial materials 45
- 3.5.10.5 Bacterial 46
- 3.6 Synthetic (polymeric) hydrogels 47
- 3.6.1 Polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels 49
- 3.6.2 Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm) hydrogels 49
- 3.6.3 Sodium polyacrylate hydrogels 49
- 3.6.4 Polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels 50
- 3.6.5 Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels 50
- 3.6.6 Polyacrylate hydrogels 51
- 3.7 Emerging hydrogel chemistries 51
- 3.8 Smart Hydrogels 52
- 3.8.1 Thermo-Sensitive Hydrogels 53
- 3.8.2 pH-Sensitive Hydrogels 54
- 3.8.3 Electro-Sensitive hydrogels 55
- 3.8.4 Light-Responsive hydrogels 55
- 3.8.5 Enzyme-Sensitive Hydrogels 56
- 3.8.6 Shape memory hydrogels (SMH) 56
- 3.8.6.1 Tough shape memory hydrogels 57
- 3.8.6.2 Triple-/multi-shape memory hydrogels 57
- 3.9 Luminescent hydrogels 58
- 3.10 Nanomaterial based hydrogels 58
- 3.10.1 Graphene 58
- 3.10.2 Carbon nanotubes 60
- 3.10.3 Nanoclays 60
- 3.10.4 Cellulose nanofibers 61
- 3.10.5 Cellulose nanocrystals 62
- 3.11 Directly bonded hydrogels 62
- 3.12 Interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogels 62
- 3.13 3D and 4D printed hydrogels 63
- 3.14 Hydrogel toxigens 64
- 3.15 Challenges 65
4 MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS 66
- 4.1 Applications roadmap 66
- 4.2 Materials hydrogels compete with, by industry 66
- 4.3 Hydrogel revenues 68
- 4.3.1 By market 2020-2034 68
- 4.3.2 By hydrogel type 2020-2034 70
- 4.3.3 By region 2020-2034 73
- 4.3.3.1 North America 73
- 4.3.3.2 Europe 73
- 4.3.3.3 Asia-Pacific 73
- 4.4 Healthcare and wellness 76
- 4.4.1 Market overview 76
- 4.4.2 Market drivers 77
- 4.4.3 Hydrogel medical products 78
- 4.4.3.1 Oral delivery 78
- 4.4.3.2 Ocular (Contact lenses) 79
- 4.4.3.3 Wound dressings 80
- 4.4.3.4 Skin sensors 84
- 4.4.4 Injectable hydrogels 84
- 4.4.4.1 Overview 84
- 4.4.4.2 Products 87
- 4.4.5 Medical implants 94
- 4.4.5.1 Overview 94
- 4.4.6 Tissue engineering 95
- 4.4.6.1 Overview 96
- 4.4.6.2 Products 97
- 4.4.7 Skin care and cosmetics 97
- 4.4.7.1 Overview 97
- 4.4.7.2 Products 98
- 4.4.8 Facial correction/aesthetic products 99
- 4.4.8.1 Overview 100
- 4.4.8.2 Products 100
- 4.4.9 Biosensors 102
- 4.4.9.1 Market overview 102
- 4.4.10 Other biomedical applications 104
- 4.4.11 SWOT analysis 105
- 4.4.12 Global revenues 106
- 4.5 Water purification and capture 108
- 4.5.1 Market overview 108
- 4.5.2 Market drivers 109
- 4.5.3 Applications 110
- 4.5.3.1 Hydrogel water purification 110
- 4.5.3.1.1 Magnetic hydrogels 110
- 4.5.3.1.2 Smart hydrogels for bioseparation of proteins 110
- 4.5.3.1.3 Adsorption 110
- 4.5.3.1.4 Solar evaporation 111
- 4.5.3.1.5 Filtration 112
- 4.5.3.1 Hydrogel water purification 110
- 4.5.3.2 Water capture 113
- 4.5.4 SWOT analysis 114
- 4.5.5 Global revenues 116
- 4.6 Agriculture 118
- 4.6.1 Market overview 118
- 4.6.2 Market drivers 118
- 4.6.3 Applications 119
- 4.6.3.1 Hydrogel fertilizers 119
- 4.6.3.2 Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) 119
- 4.6.3.3 Natural polymer hydrogels 121
- 4.6.3.4 Nanomaterials hydrogels 121
- 4.6.3.5 Methods for application 122
- 4.6.3.6 Benefits and drawbacks 122
- 4.6.4 SWOT analysis 124
- 4.6.5 Global revenues 125
- 4.7 Building and construction 127
- 4.7.1 Market overview 127
- 4.7.2 Market drivers 128
- 4.7.3 Applications 128
- 4.7.3.1 Cement and concrete 128
- 4.7.3.1.1 Hydrogel nanosilica cement pastes 129
- 4.7.3.1.2 Polyacrylic hydrogels in cement composites 129
- 4.7.3.1.3 Hydrogel-based internal curing agents 130
- 4.7.3.2 Hydrogels for heating and cooling systems (thermal management) 130
- 4.7.3.2.1 Evaporative cooling 130
- 4.7.3.2.2 Hydroceramic hydrogel cooling 132
- 4.7.3.2.3 Cooling of solar panels 133
- 4.7.3.3 Hydrogel windows 134
- 4.7.3.4 Self-healing road surfaces and asphalt 134
- 4.7.3.1 Cement and concrete 128
- 4.7.4 SWOT analysis 135
- 4.7.5 Global revenues 136
- 4.8 Electronics 138
- 4.8.1 Market overview 138
- 4.8.2 Market drivers 139
- 4.8.3 Applications 139
- 4.8.3.1 Conductive hydrogels for soft and flexible electronics 139
- 4.8.3.2 Thermal management 141
- 4.8.3.3 Ionic conductors for electronic textiles 142
- 4.8.3.4 Electronic textile sensors 142
- 4.8.3.5 Transistors 143
- 4.8.4 SWOT analysis 144
- 4.8.5 Global revenues 145
- 4.9 Energy 147
- 4.9.1 Market overview 147
- 4.9.2 Market drivers 148
- 4.9.3 Applications 148
- 4.9.3.1 Flexible and solid-state energy storage 148
- 4.9.3.2 Electrolytes and electrodes 152
- 4.9.3.3 Conductive hydrogels 153
- 4.9.3.4 Batteries 154
- 4.9.3.5 Supercapacitors 155
- 4.9.3.6 Photovoltaics 156
- 4.9.4 SWOT analysis 157
- 4.9.5 Global revenues 158
- 4.10 Sensors 160
- 4.10.1 Market overview 160
- 4.10.2 Market drivers 160
- 4.10.3 Applications 161
- 4.10.3.1 Strain/pressure sensors 161
- 4.10.3.2 Biosensors 161
- 4.10.3.3 Food quality sensors 161
- 4.10.4 SWOT analysis 163
- 4.10.5 Global revenues 164
- 4.11 Membranes and films 166
- 4.11.1 Market overview 166
- 4.11.2 Market drivers 166
- 4.11.3 Production 167
- 4.11.4 Applications 168
- 4.11.4.1 Self-healing membranes 168
- 4.11.4.2 Biomedical membranes 169
- 4.11.4.2.1 Tissue engineering 169
- 4.11.4.2.2 Drug delivery 170
- 4.11.4.2.3 Organ-on-a-chip devices 172
- 4.11.4.3 Filtration membranes 173
- 4.11.4.3.1 Gas separation 173
- 4.11.4.3.2 Oil/water 173
- 4.11.4.3.3 Water/wastewater treatment 173
- 4.11.4.4 Architectural and acoustic membranes 174
- 4.11.4.5 Energy storage membranes 175
- 4.11.5 SWOT analysi 175
- 4.11.6 Global revenues 176
- 4.12 Self-healing hydrogels 178
- 4.12.1 Self-healing mechanisms 178
- 4.12.1.1 Hydrogen Bonding 179
- 4.12.1.2 Ionic Bonds 179
- 4.12.1.3 Host-Guest Interactions 179
- 4.12.1.4 Hydrophobic Bonds 179
- 4.12.1.5 Imine Bonds 180
- 4.12.1.6 Arylhydrazone bonds 180
- 4.12.1.7 Diels-Alder Reaction 180
- 4.12.2 Types and materials 181
- 4.12.2.1 Natural Polymers 182
- 4.12.2.2 Synthetic polymers 183
- 4.12.2.3 Polyampholyte self-healing hydrogels 183
- 4.12.2.3.1 Reversible polymer self-healing hydrogels 183
- 4.12.2.4 Peptides 184
- 4.12.2.5 Mussel-inspired proteins 184
- 4.12.2.6 Bacterial cellulose 184
- 4.12.2.7 Conductive polymers 185
- 4.12.2.8 Zwitterionic polymers 187
- 4.12.2.9 Nanomaterial self-healing hydrogels 187
- 4.12.2.9.1 Graphene 187
- 4.12.2.9.2 Carbon nanotubes 188
- 4.12.2.9.3 Nanoclays 189
- 4.12.2.9.4 Silicate nanoparticles 189
- 4.12.2.9.5 Magnetic nanoparticles 189
- 4.12.3 Applications 189
- 4.12.3.1 Anti-fouling coatings 190
- 4.12.3.2 Tissue engineering 191
- 4.12.3.3 Soft robotics 192
- 4.12.3.4 Triboelectric nanogenerators 192
- 4.12.3.5 Self-healable hydrogel dressings 193
- 4.12.3.6 Bone regeneration 194
- 4.12.3.7 Self-healing artificial muscles 195
- 4.12.1 Self-healing mechanisms 178
5 HYDROGEL COMPANY PROFILES 196 (71 company profiles)
6 REFERENCES 253
List of Tables
- Table 1. Hydrogel terms and definitions. 18
- Table 2. Common hydrogel formulations. 27
- Table 3. Benefits of hydrogels. 27
- Table 4. Synthesis methods for hydrogels. 29
- Table 5. Comparative analysis: Natural vs synthetic hydrogels. 36
- Table 6. Types of biobased aerogels. 38
- Table 7. Example markets and applications for lignin. 42
- Table 8. Emerging hydrogel chemistries. 51
- Table 9. Applications of smart hydrogels by type. 52
- Table 10. 4D printed hydrogels. 63
- Table 11. Challenges with hydrogels. 65
- Table 12. Materials hydrogels compete with, by industry. 67
- Table 13. Hydrogel revenues, by market 2020-2034 (billions USD). 68
- Table 14. Hydrogel revenues, by hydrogel type 2020-2034 (billions USD). 70
- Table 15. Hydrogel revenues, by region 2020-2034 (billions USD). 73
- Table 16. Market overview of hydrogels in biomedicine. 76
- Table 17. Market drivers for hydrogels in healthcare and wellness. 77
- Table 18. Clinically approved oral hydrogel products. 78
- Table 19. Ocular hydrogel applications. 79
- Table 20. Clinically approved ocular hydrogel products. 79
- Table 21. Clinically approved wound dressing hydrogel products. 81
- Table 22. Injectable hydrogels properties and applications. 85
- Table 23. Clinically approved injectable hydrogels. 87
- Table 24. Overview of hydrogels in medical implants. 94
- Table 25. Market overview for hydrogels in tissue engineering. 96
- Table 26. Hydrogel tissue engineering products. 97
- Table 27. Commercially available hydrogel cosmetic products. 98
- Table 28. Market overview of hydrogels in Facial correction/aesthetic products. 100
- Table 29. Hydrogel Facial correction/aesthetic products. 100
- Table 30. Market overview for hydrogels in biosensors. 103
- Table 31. Hydrogel revenues, in healthcare & wellness, 2020-2034 (billions USD). 106
- Table 32. Market overview for hydrogels in water purification and capture. 108
- Table 33. Market drivers for hydrogels in water purification and capture. 109
- Table 34. Hydrogel revenues, in water purification & capture 2020-2034 (billions USD). 116
- Table 35. Market drivers for hydrogels in agriculture. 118
- Table 36. Benefits and drawbacks of hydrogels in agriculture. 122
- Table 37. Hydrogel revenues, in agriculture 2020-2034 (billions USD). 125
- Table 38. Market overview of hydrogels in buildings and construction. 127
- Table 39. Market drivers for hydrogels in buildings and construction. 128
- Table 40. Hydrogel panel. 131
- Table 41. Hydrogel revenues, in building & construction 2020-2034 (Billion USD). 136
- Table 42. Market overview of hydrogels in electronics. 138
- Table 43. Market drivers for hydrogels in electronics. 139
- Table 44. Benefits of electronic skin patches as a form factor. 140
- Table 45. Current and emerging applications for electronic skin patches. 141
- Table 46. Hydrogel revenues, in electronics 2020-2034 (Billion USD). 145
- Table 47. Market overview of hydrogels in energy storage and generation. 147
- Table 48. Market drivers for hydrogels in energy. 148
- Table 49. Comparison of prototype batteries (flexible, textile, and other) in terms of area-specific performance. 149
- Table 50. Hydrogel tissue-like soft batteries. 153
- Table 51. Properties and applications of conductive hydrogels. 153
- Table 52. Hydrogels in batteries. 154
- Table 53. Hydrogels in supercapacitors. 155
- Table 54. Hydrogel revenues, in energy 2020-2034 (Billion USD). 158
- Table 55. Hydrogels in the sensors market. 160
- Table 56. Market drivers for hydrogels in sensors. 160
- Table 57. Hydrogel revenues in sensors 2020-2034 (Billion USD). 164
- Table 58. Market drivers for hydrogels in membranes. 166
- Table 59. Hydrogels in tissue engineering . 169
- Table 60. Applications of hydrogel membranes for tissue engineering and drug delivery. 171
- Table 61. Applications of hydrogel membranes for separation processes in water/wastewater treatment. 173
- Table 62. Hydrogel revenues, in membranes 2020-2034 (Billion USD). 176
- Table 63. Self-healing natural polymers. 182
- Table 64. Synthetic polymers. 183
- Table 65. Components, preparation and properties of representative conductive polymer hydrogels. 186
- Table 66. Properties of graphene. 187
- Table 67. Applications of self-healing hydrogels. 189
List of Figures
- Figure 1. Structure of hydrogel. 21
- Figure 2. Classification of hydrogels based on properties. 23
- Figure 3. Preparation and potential biomedical applications of click hydrogels, microgels and nanogels. 25
- Figure 4. Polymers and crosslinking physico-chemistry. 29
- Figure 5. Schematic illustrations of chemical crosslinking mechanism. 32
- Figure 6. Four common free-radical polymerization methods. 33
- Figure 7. Physically crosslinking stimuli sensitive to hydrogels. 35
- Figure 8. Schematic of physical crosslinking mechanism. 36
- Figure 9. Methods for producing bio-based aerogels. 37
- Figure 10. Classification of polymer hydrogels. 47
- Figure 11. Types of polymer hydrogels. 48
- Figure 12. Schematic illustration smart hydrogels subjected to an external stimuli. 52
- Figure 13. Schematic of thermogel application. 54
- Figure 14. Applications of pH-sensitive hydrogel sensors in biomedicine. 55
- Figure 15. Shape memory hydrogel. 57
- Figure 16. Graphene aerogel. 60
- Figure 17. Applications roadmap for hydrogels. 66
- Figure 18. Hydrogel revenues, by market 2020-2034 (billions USD). 69
- Figure 19. Hydrogel revenues, by hydrogel type 2020-2034 (billions USD). 72
- Figure 20. Hydrogel revenues, by region 2020-2034 (billions USD). 75
- Figure 21. Hydrogel wound dressing. 81
- Figure 22. Injectable hydrogel. 85
- Figure 23. Schematic illustration of approaches to make injectable hydrogels for cartilage- and bone tissue-engineering applications. 87
- Figure 24. Hydrogel tissue engineering scaffold. 96
- Figure 25. Hydrogel mask product. 98
- Figure 26. Biosensor system structure. 103
- Figure 27. SWOT analysis for hydrogels in healthcare & wellness. 105
- Figure 28. Schematic of how hydrogels act in water purification by contaminant adsorption. 111
- Figure 29. Schematic of hydrogels as the materials platform for highly efficient solar water purification. 112
- Figure 30. Water harvesting with hydrogels. 113
- Figure 31. SWOT analysis for hydrogels in water purification & capture. 115
- Figure 32. Alsta Hydrogel. 120
- Figure 33. Mechanism of action of hydrogel upon soil-based application. 121
- Figure 34. SWOT analysis for hydrogels in agriculture. 124
- Figure 35. Concrete Hydrogels. 129
- Figure 36. Layered Hydrogel between Wall Panels. 131
- Figure 37. IaaC Students Develop a Passive Cooling System from Hydrogel and Ceramic. 133
- Figure 38. SWOT analysis for hydrogels in building & construction. 135
- Figure 39. SWOT analysis for hydrogels in electronics. 144
- Figure 40. Various architectures for flexible and stretchable electrochemical energy storage. 150
- Figure 41. Types of flexible batteries. 152
- Figure 42. Schematic of photovoltaic integrated water-electricity-crop co-production system. 156
- Figure 43. SWOT analysis for hydrogels in energy. 157
- Figure 44. SWOT analysis for hydrogels in sensors. 163
- Figure 45. Processes for hydrogel membrane fabrication. 168
- Figure 46. Hydrogel drug delivery membranes. 171
- Figure 47. SWOT analysis for hydrogels in membranes. 176
- Figure 48. Healing process in a hydrogel. 179
- Figure 49. Chemical and noncovalent interactions behind self-healable hydrogels. 181
- Figure 50. (A) Wound self-healing process (B) Different forms of wound dressings. 185
- Figure 51. Hydrogel shown in orange strong affinity with water and creates a layer of water on the hull which lowers hull friction. 191
- Figure 52. Organic hydrogel. 198
- Figure 53. Anpoly cellulose nanofiber hydrogel. 202
- Figure 54. MEDICELLU™. 202
- Figure 55. Cellugy materials. 207
- Figure 56. 2D paper batteries. 215
- Figure 57. 3D Custom Format paper batteries. 215
- Figure 58. GelSana Therapeutics hydrogel. 218
- Figure 59. PeptiGels®. 225
- Figure 60. MEDAGEL patch. 229
- Figure 61. Nix Biosensors patch. 230
- Figure 62. mediNiK® hydrogel with encapsulated kidney stone fragments following removal from the kidney. 238
- Figure 63. GelrinC Procedure. 240
- Figure 64. Spider silk production. 246
- Figure 65. FibDex® wound dressing. 250
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