Functionalized polymers, such as catechol-modified chitosan hydrogel, are becoming increasingly interesting and relevant. Chitosan is a bioactive, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly polymer with antibacterial properties. Additionally, it can be easily modified, making it suitable for a wide range of applications in various fields. The properties of chitosan allow for a pH-dependent sol-gel conversion, forming a hydrogel network. This mechanism can be utilized to electrodeposit chitosan onto an electrically conductive substrate. The hydrogel can be further enhanced with catechol, a natural adhesive protein, through chemical modification or electrochemical anodic oxidation. When catechols are bound to the hydrogel and oxidized, active oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide are produced as by-products. These active oxygen species can be used to degrade organic pollutants, and the hydrogels prepared in this microsystem can serve as antimicrobial hydrogels.
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