Chapter 5 - Hydrogels based on heparin and its conjugates

Abstract

Hydrogels are considered to be attractive candidates for application as biomaterials in the medical and pharmaceutical industries because of its advantageous properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, hydrophilicity, and safety profile. In recent years, there has been a phenomenal expansion of heparin-based hydrogel, particularly in the areas of growth factor administration and cell carriers. This chapter focuses on heparin-based hydrogel, which can be produced in a multitude of methods. Crosslinking networks in heparin-based hydrogels are created using a variety of methods like chemical covalent bonding, physical conjugation, or a combination of the two. The different approaches for stimuli-responsive heparin hydrogels are also be discussed.