Abstract
Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymer networks that absorb any kind of liquid including biological fluids. Natural polymers and their derivatives along with synthetic polymers are used to form the hydrogels. Networks that constitute the hydrogels are created by the crosslinking of either synthesized polymers starting from monomers or already developed polymers. Crosslinking can be developed either physically if secondary intermolecular forces are involved or chemically in which a covalent bond between polymeric chains is created. Gelatins are natural driven protein polymers. One of the main biopolymers used for producing hydrogels is gelatin. Gelatin has a very wide application other than hydrogels. In this review, hydrogels and their property and synthesis mechanism, as well as their application in biomedical along with gelatin chemistry and application, are reviewed. Due to its nonimmunogenicity, nontoxicity, low cost, and high availability gelatin-based hydrogels could find applications in drug delivery carrier, bioink, transdermal therapy, wound healing, and tissue repair. The beneficiation of gelatin can result in their sustainable conversion into high-value biomaterials on the proviso of the existence or development of cost-effective, sustainable technologies for converting this biopolymer into useful bioproducts.
Highlights
Hydrogels are 3dimensional polymeric units that can take in and keep a huge amount of liquid and other biological fluids by trapping them in their network [1, 2]
Hydrogels can be made into different physical forms based on the advantage they are intended to be used for such as coatings for implants or catheters, membranes or sheets for a reservoir in a transdermal drug delivery patch and wound dressings, solid moulded forms to be used as soft contact lenses and pressed powder particles to be used as pills or capsules for oral ingestions [2]. e most frequently used synthesize techniques of hydrogel preparation are photo(radical)-initiation system using photoinitiator and crosslinker and the enzymatic crosslinking of functionalized gelatin by which the first one provides good temporal and spatial control on the process [6]
“Synthetic polymeric hydrogels are generally three-dimensional swollen networks of hydrophilic homopolymers or copolymers covalently or ionically crosslinked”. e polymeric hydrogel can be formed by several techniques; but, the most common synthesis method is the polymerization of free-radical vinyl monomers in the presence of swelling agents and bifunctional crosslinking agents. e polymer obtained with this method is exciting in the sense that it shows both solid and liquid-like properties. e polymer formed contains more than 80% of water
Summary
Hydrogels are 3dimensional polymeric units that can take in and keep a huge amount of liquid and other biological fluids by trapping them in their network [1, 2]. For gelatin-based hydrogels, their rheological properties can be modified by altering the parameters like concentration of photoinitiator and polymer and the time for exposure to ultraviolet light or the polymerization time and level [10]. We review the possibilities of using gelatin-based hydrogel in high-value applications. Journal of Engineering gelatins are rich sources of proteins and amino acids, we believe that they are a valuable resource; their beneficiation can result in their sustainable conversion into high-value materials and products on the proviso of the existence or development of cost-effective technologies for converting this waste into useful products. Medical textiles are located at the interfaces between technical disciplines and life sciences It comprises two different aspects, on the one hand, representing the technical aspect, including textile engineering, chemistry, and testing and certification, and on the other, including the aspects of life sciences like medicine, microbiology, and comfort or strain [12]. Advanced medical textiles are developing due to their growth and improvement in the fields of bandaging and pressure garments, wound healing, and controlled-release, implantable devices, medical devices [13]
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