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Volume 11
Issue 5
10.3390/gels11050316
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Review

Current Utilization of Gel-Based Scaffolds and Templates in Foot and Ankle Surgery—A Review

by
Julia E. Ralph
1,
Bradley J. Lauck
2,
Charles B. Colson
3,
Santita Ebangwese
1,*,
Conor N. O’Neill
4,
Albert T. Anastasio
4,* and
Samuel B. Adams
4
1
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
2
University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
3
Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, USA
4
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Gels 2025, 11(5), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050316
Submission received: 20 March 2025 / Revised: 19 April 2025 / Accepted: 22 April 2025 / Published: 24 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels in Biomedicine)
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Abstract

As tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) continues to revolutionize medicine and surgery, there is also growing interest in applying these advancements to foot and ankle surgery. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the types of gel scaffolds and templates, their applications in foot and ankle surgery, the challenges with current utilization, and the future directions of TERM in foot and ankle surgery. With multiple compelling scaffold prospects across the numerous natural, synthetic, and hybrid polymers currently utilized in TERM, promising results have been described in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and osteochondral lesions (OCLs). However, concerns with material biocompatibility, structural integrity, feasibility during surgery, and degradation still exist and limit the extent of utilization. As researchers continue to develop enhanced polymers and formulations that address current issues, there are many opportunities to increase applications across foot and ankle surgery.
Keywords: gels; foot and ankle surgery; scaffolds; osteochondral lesions; arthritis; templates gels; foot and ankle surgery; scaffolds; osteochondral lesions; arthritis; templates
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MDPI and ACS Style

Ralph, J.E.; Lauck, B.J.; Colson, C.B.; Ebangwese, S.; O’Neill, C.N.; Anastasio, A.T.; Adams, S.B. Current Utilization of Gel-Based Scaffolds and Templates in Foot and Ankle Surgery—A Review. Gels 2025, 11, 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050316

AMA Style

Ralph JE, Lauck BJ, Colson CB, Ebangwese S, O’Neill CN, Anastasio AT, Adams SB. Current Utilization of Gel-Based Scaffolds and Templates in Foot and Ankle Surgery—A Review. Gels. 2025; 11(5):316. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050316

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ralph, Julia E., Bradley J. Lauck, Charles B. Colson, Santita Ebangwese, Conor N. O’Neill, Albert T. Anastasio, and Samuel B. Adams. 2025. "Current Utilization of Gel-Based Scaffolds and Templates in Foot and Ankle Surgery—A Review" Gels 11, no. 5: 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050316

APA Style

Ralph, J. E., Lauck, B. J., Colson, C. B., Ebangwese, S., O’Neill, C. N., Anastasio, A. T., & Adams, S. B. (2025). Current Utilization of Gel-Based Scaffolds and Templates in Foot and Ankle Surgery—A Review. Gels, 11(5), 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050316

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