Funct. Mater. 2025; 32 (3): 441-445.

The microstructure (particle size distribution) of the agarose hydrogel was investigated using the dynamic light scattering method. The results of measurements showed that there are two types of particles in the gel structure: 1) large particles, the sizes of which depend on the agarose concentration, temperature, and holding time at a given temperature; 2) small particles, the sizes of which weakly dependent on the above-mentioned factors. Analysis shows that small particles are free bispirals (double helices), while large particles are associations consisting of a large number of bispirals. The effect of hydrophobic and hydrophilic additives on the particle size distribution was also studied. Hydrophobic additive increases the number of free bispirals and they disappear when a hyrophilic substance is added to the gel.