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Biopolymer-Based Hydrogel Materials: Opportunities and Challenges
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Biopolymer-Based Hydrogel Materials: Opportunities and Challenges

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 9803

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Aleksey D. Drozdov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
Interests: stimuli-responsive gels; microgels; organohydrogels; eutectogels; swelling; mechanical response; modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels are networks of polymer chains bridged by covalent cross-links and physical bonds. These materials swell strongly in aqueous solutions (due to the hydrophilic nature of chains) but preserve their structural integrity due to the presence to permanent links between chains. Unlike many synthetic gels, natural polymer-based gels are ecofriendly, nontoxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, responsive to biological stimuli, accessible through renewable resources, recyclable, easily processable, and potentially low-cost. These properties make them attractive for applications in drug delivery, tissue regeneration, bio-nanotechnology, catalysis, packaging, food industry, agriculture, bioelectronics, and energy storage.

Biopolymer-based gels differ substantially from their synthetic counterparts in terms of the structure of chains (semi-flexible peptide bundles versus flexible chains), types of cross-links (ionic cross-linking of polysaccharides, enzymatic cross-linking of peptides, formation of protein complexes), self-organization (development of supramolecular structures via self-assembly), and response to external stimuli (thermotropic phase transitions in protein–lipid bio-membranes). These features open an opportunity for the engineering of nano-, micro-, and macro-gels with enhanced mechanical properties and novel functionalities: multi-stimuli-responsiveness, molecular recognition, and cell adhesion.

This Special Issue focuses on design and preparation methods for stimuli-responsive biopolymer nanogels and macroscopic gels, theoretical and experimental analysis of their properties and interactions with cells and biological tissues, correlations between the microstructure of biopolymer gels and their mechanical and physical properties, as well as novel areas of applications for these materials.

Prof. Dr. Aleksey D. Drozdov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Biomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • stimuli-responsive biopolymer gels
  • supramolecular biopolymer gels
  • degradable biopolymer matrices
  • self-assembling of proteins
  • injectable and self-healing biopolymer gels
  • bio-adhesive gels
  • interactions between cells and biopolymer gels
  • applications of biopolymer gels

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 6805 KiB  
Article
Effects of Gamma Irradiation and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Sterilization on Methacrylated Gelatin/Hyaluronan Hydrogels
by Christiane Heinemann, Frauke Buchner, Poh Soo Lee, Anne Bernhardt, Benjamin Kruppke, Hans-Peter Wiesmann and Vera Hintze
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(6), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14060317 - 8 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2352
Abstract
Biopolymer hydrogels have become an important group of biomaterials in experimental and clinical use. However, unlike metallic or mineral materials, they are quite sensitive to sterilization. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of gamma irradiation and supercritical carbon dioxide [...] Read more.
Biopolymer hydrogels have become an important group of biomaterials in experimental and clinical use. However, unlike metallic or mineral materials, they are quite sensitive to sterilization. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of gamma irradiation and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) treatment on the physicochemical properties of different hyaluronan (HA)- and/or gelatin (GEL)-based hydrogels and the cellular response of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC). Hydrogels were photo-polymerized from methacrylated HA, methacrylated GEL, or a mixture of GEL/HA. The composition and sterilization methods altered the dissolution behavior of the biopolymeric hydrogels. There were no significant differences in methacrylated GEL release but increased methacrylated HA degradation of gamma-irradiated samples. Pore size/form remained unchanged, while gamma irradiation decreased the elastic modulus from about 29 kPa to 19 kPa compared to aseptic samples. HBMSC proliferated and increased alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) particularly in aseptic and gamma-irradiated methacrylated GEL/HA hydrogels alike, while scCO2 treatment had a negative effect on both proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Thus, gamma-irradiated methacrylated GEL/HA hydrogels are a promising base for multi-component bone substitute materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer-Based Hydrogel Materials: Opportunities and Challenges)
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19 pages, 3364 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial PVA Hydrogels with Tunable Mechanical Properties and Antimicrobial Release Profiles
by Caitlyn Greene, Henry T. Beaman, Darnelle Stinfort, Maryam Ramezani and Mary Beth B. Monroe
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(4), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14040234 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3302
Abstract
Hydrogels are broadly employed in wound healing applications due to their high water content and tissue-mimicking mechanical properties. Healing is hindered by infection in many types of wound, including Crohn’s fistulas, tunneling wounds that form between different portions of the digestive system in [...] Read more.
Hydrogels are broadly employed in wound healing applications due to their high water content and tissue-mimicking mechanical properties. Healing is hindered by infection in many types of wound, including Crohn’s fistulas, tunneling wounds that form between different portions of the digestive system in Crohn’s disease patients. Owing to the rise of drug-resistant infections, alternate approaches are required to treat wound infections beyond traditional antibiotics. To address this clinical need, we designed a water-responsive shape memory polymer (SMP) hydrogel, with natural antimicrobials in the form of phenolic acids (PAs), for potential use in wound filling and healing. The shape memory properties could allow for implantation in a low-profile shape, followed by expansion and would filling, while the PAs provide localized delivery of antimicrobials. Here, we developed a urethane-crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel with cinnamic (CA), p-coumaric (PCA), and caffeic (Ca-A) acid chemically or physically incorporated at varied concentrations. We examined the effects of incorporated PAs on antimicrobial, mechanical, and shape memory properties, and on cell viability. Materials with physically incorporated PAs showed improved antibacterial properties with lower biofilm formation on hydrogel surfaces. Both modulus and elongation at break could be increased simultaneously in hydrogels after both forms of PA incorporation. Cellular response in terms of initial viability and growth over time varied based on PA structure and concentration. Shape memory properties were not negatively affected by PA incorporation. These PA-containing hydrogels with antimicrobial properties could provide a new option for wound filling, infection control, and healing. Furthermore, PA content and structure provide novel tools for tuning material properties independently of network chemistry, which could be harnessed in a range of materials systems and biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer-Based Hydrogel Materials: Opportunities and Challenges)
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21 pages, 6015 KiB  
Article
Carbopol Based Hydrogels for ITOPRIDE Hydrochloride Delivery; Synthesis, Characterization and Comparative Assessment with Various Monomers
by Muhammad Sarfraz, Rabia Iqbal, Kifayat Ullah Khan and Muhammad Usman Minhas
J. Funct. Biomater. 2022, 13(4), 295; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb13040295 - 12 Dec 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3381
Abstract
The objective of the current study was to synthesize and characterize carbopol containing hydrogels with different monomers such as methacrylic acid (MAA), 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and itaconic acid (ITA). Free radical polymerization method was optimized for the preparation of different formulations using [...] Read more.
The objective of the current study was to synthesize and characterize carbopol containing hydrogels with different monomers such as methacrylic acid (MAA), 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and itaconic acid (ITA). Free radical polymerization method was optimized for the preparation of different formulations using N,N-methylene bis-acrylamide (MBA) as cross linking agent. Different studies were performed to evaluate the effect of different monomers on swelling, drug loading and drug release. Itopride Hydrochloride was used as model drug. FTIR, TGA, DSC and SEM were performed to probe the characteristics of fabricated hydrogels. Swelling studies of different fabricated hydrogels were performed in three pH conditions (1.2, 4.5 & 6.8). Higher swelling was observed at pH 6.8. An in-vitro release study was performed on pH 1.2 and 6.8. The synthesized hydrogels exhibited excellent mechanical strength, higher drug loading, pH sensitive and time dependent release up to 30 h. The excellent mechanical strength and extended drug release of Carbopol-co-poly-MAA-ITA hydrogels make them a potential candidate for controlled delivery of Itopride hydrochloride. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer-Based Hydrogel Materials: Opportunities and Challenges)
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