Hydrogels In Medicine Research Articles

Fast, Easy, and Reproducible Fingerprint Methods for Endotoxin Characterization in Nanocellulose and Alginate-Based Hydrogel Scaffolds.

Nanocellulose- and alginate-based hydrogels have been suggested as potential wound-healing materials, but their utilization is limited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements regarding endotoxin levels. Cytotoxicity and the presence of endotoxin were assessed after gel sterilization using an autoclave and UV treatment. A new fingerprinting method was developed to characterize the compounds detected in cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)- and cellulose-nanofiber (CNF)-based hydrogels using both positive- and negative-ion mode electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectroscopy (ESI FT-ICR MS). These biobased hydrogels were used as scaffolds for the cultivation and growth of human dermal fibroblasts to test their biocompatibility. A resazurin-based assay was preferred over all other biocompatibility methodologies since it allowed for the evaluation of viability over time in the same sample without causing cell lysis. The CNF dispersion of 6 EU mL-1 was slightly above the limits, and it did not affect the cell viability, whereas CNC hydrogels induced a reduction of metabolic activity by the fibroblasts. The chemical structure of the detected endotoxins did not contain phosphates, but it encompassed hydrophobic sulfonate groups, requiring the development of new high-pressure sterilization methods for the use of cellulose hydrogels in medicine.

Recent advances in polymers, preparation techniques, applications and future perspectives of hydrogels

Drug delivery via hydrogel is one of the most effective methods. Hydrogels have been described as polymeric water-swollen materials and retain water in distinctive three-dimensional complex. These are classified as pH sensitive hydrogels, temperature sensitive hydrogels, homo-polymer hydrogels, co-polymer hydrogels and Interpenetrating Network (IP-N) hydrogel. Hydrogels can be prepared via various techniques, including physical crosslinking, chemical crosslinking, free radical polymerization, photo-initiator’s and hydrogen bonding. Various polymers in manufacturing includes pectin, chitosan, cyclodextrin and carrageenan, etc. This review aims to describes hydrogels for drug delivery, classifications, preparation techniques, various polymers in hydrogel preparation and highlights novel applications of hydrogels in medicine.

Synthesis and Characterization of Gelatin Methacryloyl: Introducing Chemistry Students to the Applications of Hydrogels in Medicine

Synthesis and Characterization of Gelatin Methacryloyl: Introducing Chemistry Students to the Applications of Hydrogels in Medicine

Biomolecule‐Responsive Hydrogels in Medicine

Recent advances and applications of biomolecule-responsive hydrogels, namely, glucose-responsive hydrogels, protein-responsive hydrogels, and nucleic-acid-responsive hydrogels are highlighted. However, achieving the ultimate purpose of using biomolecule-responsive hydrogels in preclinical and clinical areas is still at the very early stage and calls for more novel designing concepts and advance ideas. On the way toward the real/clinical application of biomolecule-responsive hydrogels, plenty of factors should be extensively studied and examined under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. For example, biocompatibility, biointegration, and toxicity of biomolecule-responsive hydrogels should be carefully evaluated. From the living body's point of view, biocompatibility is seriously depended on the interactions at the tissue/polymer interface. These interactions are influenced by physical nature, chemical structure, surface properties, and degradation of the materials. In addition, the developments of advanced hydrogels with tunable biological and mechanical properties which cause no/low side effects are of great importance.

Hydrogels in healthcare: From static to dynamic material microenvironments

Advances in hydrogel design have revolutionized the way biomaterials are applied to address biomedical needs. Hydrogels were introduced in medicine over 50years ago and have evolved from static, bioinert materials to dynamic, bioactive microenvironments, which can be used to direct specific biological responses such as cellular ingrowth in wound healing or on-demand delivery of therapeutics. Two general classes of mechanisms, those defined by the user and those dictated by the endogenous cells and tissues, can control dynamic hydrogel microenvironments. These highly tunable materials have provided bioengineers and biological scientists with new ways not only to treat patients in the clinic but to study the fundamental cellular responses to engineered microenvironments as well. Here, we provide a brief history of hydrogels in medicine and follow with a discussion of the synthesis and implementation of dynamic hydrogel microenvironments for healthcare-related applications.

Physicochemical foundations and structural design of hydrogels in medicine and biology.

Hydrogels are cross-linked hydrophilic polymers that can imbibe water or biological fluids. Their biomedical and pharmaceutical applications include a very wide range of systems and processes that utilize several molecular design characteristics. This review discusses the molecular structure, dynamic behavior, and structural modifications of hydrogels as well as the various applications of these biohydrogels. Recent advances in the preparation of three-dimensional structures with exact chain conformations, as well as tethering of functional groups, allow for the preparation of promising new hydrogels. Meanwhile, intelligent biohydrogels with pH- or temperature-sensitivity continue to be important materials in medical applications.

Hydrogels for neural tissue reconstruction and transplantation

Since the first use of hydrogels as biomaterials, interest in synthetic hydrogels in medicine has increased considerably and the range of biomedical applications has expanded. This paper discusses a novel application of the use of synthetic hydrogels that are processed to serve as artificial matrices for neural tissue reconstruction, the delivery of cells and the promotion of axonal regeneration required for successful neurotransplantation. The possibility to create hydrogels with bioactive characteristics for neural cell adhesion and growth is also presented.