Hydrofilne

Hydrofilne, commonly referred to as hydrophilic, describes substances, surfaces or materials with an affinity for water. Hydrophilic materials interact readily with water, often dissolving or swelling, and they tend to wet easily. The term derives from Greek hydro meaning water and philos meaning loving.

The chemical basis for hydrofilnost is the presence of polar or ionic groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino or phosphate groups, which can form hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions with water. These interactions increase water uptake, lower interfacial energy with water, and create high surface energy and low contact angles on hydrophilic surfaces.

In water, hydrofilne substances may dissolve (as with salts and many sugars) or swell and form gels (as with many polymers and hydrogels). Their behavior depends on molecular structure, crosslinking, and environmental conditions such as pH and ionic strength. Some materials are permanently hydrophilic, while others are only hydrophilic under certain conditions.

Examples and materials commonly described as hydrofilne include simple molecules like glucose; polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, and cellulose derivatives; and many natural surfaces like glass. By contrast, hydrophobic materials contain predominantly nonpolar groups and repel water.

Applications of hydrofilne materials span medicine, biology, and industry. They are used in drug delivery systems, tissue engineering scaffolds, and hydrogels; in chromatography as hydrophilic stationary phases; in coatings, contact lenses, and anti-fog or wetting control surfaces. Tuning hydrophilnost through surface modification or chemical design is a central approach to optimize adhesion, permeability, and biocompatibility.

Notes: hydrophilnost can depend on pH, temperature, and ionic strength, and some substances are amphiphilic, containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts.