Novel Gels for Biomedical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Gels have been used in several biomedical applications including as injectable materials for endovascular embolization and for therupatic neovascularization, drug release, tissue regeneration, bone repair, etc., for decades. Hydrogel became popular due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high water absorption capacity. Hydrogels are derived from natural or synthetic biomaterials. In spite of their wide range of applications in the biomedical field, hydrogels have a few limitations, including low mechanical properties and weak tissue adhesion. To improve the tissue adhesion properties, synthteic biomaterials are combined with a natural component to provide a native extracellular matrix-like enviroment for the cells in the hydrogel system. On the other hand, synthetic hydrogels have precise control over critical material properties including polymerization, degradation, and mechanical stiffness. Therefore, the combination of natural and synthetic counterparts creates a novel biohybrid hydrogel, which has become of research interest in biomedical engineering. Most of these gels are smart gels which respond to biological and external stimuli, such as temperature, pH, chemicals, enzymes, electricity, light, antigens, etc. In recent times, these novel systems have exhibited proficient drug delivery and exhibited desired properties and functions, such as selective targeting, controlled drug release, high drug loading, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, and have enriched patient compliance and comfort. At present, researchers are trying to develop alternative embolic agents that are delivered with the undesirable toxic DMSO solvent, which causes inflammatory responses in patents. For this purpose, in situ gelling-type liquid embolic systems with novel biohybrid hydrogels are developed. Successful in vivo and pre-clinical studies indicate a promising future for these liquid embolic systems for endovascular embolization. Scientists are performing several studies on therapeutic neovascularization using novel biohybrid hydrogels. 

Dr. Amrita Pal
Dr. Sung-Hyuk Sunwoo
Guest Editors

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• biohybrid hydrogels
• smart gels
• natural and synthetic biomaterial
• drug delivery
• endovascular embolization
• therapeutic neovascularization