Cryogel Poly(acrylamide): Synthesis, Structure and Applications

This review focuses on the description of macromolecular gels formed as a result of polymerization, under freezing conditions, from monomer solutions. Materials resulting from this polymerization are known as cryogels and have particular properties, such as porosity of a specific nature. They are attractive in terms of biotechnological applications. The cryogels have interconnected macropores, and their preparation method from aqueous solutions in freezing conditions is a process that combines the crystallization of a solvent with the copolymerization of monomers. Cryogels have recently been used as adsorbents for the efficient separation and purification of biomacromolecules, such as proteins, DNA, cell organelles, viruses and enzymes that are present in solutions. Despite the wide application of cryogels, improvements in their preparation are necessary to minimize problems, such as the formation of hydrogels, instead of cryogels. Hydrogels form due to immediate polymerization after addition of the redox initiator before solvent freezing. The synthesis and use of cryogels as chromatographic supports are also discussed.