Abstract
Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) as a biomaterial with excellent biocompatibility and cytocompatibility elicits a minimal immunological response from host tissue making it desirable for different biomedical applications. This article seeks to provide an in-depth overview of the properties and biomedical applications of pHEMA for bone tissue regeneration, wound healing, cancer therapy (stimuli and non-stimuli responsive systems), and ophthalmic applications (contact lenses and ocular drug delivery). As this polymer has been widely applied in ophthalmic applications, a specific consideration has been devoted to this field. Pure pHEMA does not possess antimicrobial properties and the site where the biomedical device is employed may be susceptible to microbial infections. Therefore, antimicrobial strategies such as the use of silver nanoparticles, antibiotics, and antimicrobial agents can be utilized to protect against infections. Therefore, the antimicrobial strategies besides the drug delivery applications of pHEMA were covered. With continuous research and advancement in science and technology, the outlook of pHEMA is promising as it will most certainly be utilized in more biomedical applications in the near future. The aim of this review was to bring together state-of-the-art research on pHEMA and their applications.
Highlights
Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) or pHEMA is a biocompatible, optically transparent, hydrophilic, and non-degradable polymer
An external-based stimuli-responsive nanocarrier composed of hydrophobic PMMA, hydrophilic pHEMA, and magnetite nanoparticles was designed for cancer therapy
The purpose of this review was to bring together state-of-the-art research on pHEMA and their applications. pHEMA is a biomaterial that has been utilized in many biomedical applications. pHEMA is rarely used in isolation and is usually utilized as a copolymer with other biomaterials in these applications
Summary
Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) or pHEMA is a biocompatible, optically transparent, hydrophilic, and non-degradable polymer. PHEMA is a biocompatible, non-biodegradable and optically transparent hydrophilic polymer that becomes swollen and forms a hydrogel with the absorption of water or biological fluids due to its hydrophilic pendant group. The mechanical (tensile strength and Young’s modulus) and optical (light transmission) properties, oxygen permeability, and water absorption of pHEMA-based hydrogels can be altered by different techniques of polymerization and copolymerization, different cross-linking rate etc. A great effort has been made to yield degradable pHEMA hydrogels through copolymerization of HEMA with different hydrophilic methacrylates. Another way to improve the polymer’s degradability is to lower the molecular weight below 2500 Da [24,25]. Tailorable physical and chemical properties of pHEMA would provide an opportunity to alter the final properties of bone graft based on the need and intended application
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