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Polymers
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Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel
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Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2024) | Viewed by 38231

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chao Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: biomedical polymer; bioactive material; hydrogel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Murat Guvendiren

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, NJIT, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
Interests: hydrogels; polymeric biomaterials; 3D bioprinting; biomimetics; stem cells
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues

Hydrogels form the foundation of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine as a supportive matrix for cell immobilization and growth factor delivery. Hydrogels, due to their wide range of properties, have been used as injectable, in situ gelling, patterned matrices, viscous gels, thin sheets, and three-dimensional scaffolds in regenerative medicine to guide and regulate cell fate. Development of new intelligent hydrogels is critical to the success of tissue engineering and medical applications, connected with cell cultivation.

The aim of this Special Issue is to focus on the following: hydrogels with a hierarchical structures; self-assembled hydrogels; hybrid and degradable hydrogels; load-bearing and self-healing hydrogels; hydrogels for cell encapsulation and biofabrication; hydrogels for micro-patterning, microfluidic devices, and high-throughput screening; injectable and in situ hardening hydrogels for minimally invasive applications; hydrogels that modulate the body’s immune response; and hydrogel-based delivery systems for the spatiotemporal delivery of growth factors.

Dr. Chao Xu
Prof. Dr. Murat Guvendiren
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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

  • hydrogels
  • microgels
  • responsive materials
  • injectable
  • self-assembled hydrogels

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 5770 KiB  
Article
The Image–Histology Correlation of Subcutaneous mPEG-poly(Ala) Hydrogel-Embedded MIN6 Cell Grafts in Nude Mice
by Jyuhn-Huarng Juang, Chen-Ling Chen, Chen-Wei Kao, Chen-Yi Chen, Chia-Rui Shen, Jiun-Jie Wang, Zei-Tsan Tsai and I-Ming Chu
Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2584; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122584 - 06 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1038
Abstract
Previously, we have successfully used noninvasive magnetic resonance (MR) and bioluminescence imaging to detect and monitor mPEG-poly(Ala) hydrogel-embedded MIN6 cells at the subcutaneous space for up to 64 days. In this study, we further explored the histological evolution of MIN6 cell grafts and [...] Read more.
Previously, we have successfully used noninvasive magnetic resonance (MR) and bioluminescence imaging to detect and monitor mPEG-poly(Ala) hydrogel-embedded MIN6 cells at the subcutaneous space for up to 64 days. In this study, we further explored the histological evolution of MIN6 cell grafts and correlated it with image findings. MIN6 cells were incubated overnight with chitosan-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide (CSPIO) and then 5 × 106 cells in the 100 μL hydrogel solution were injected subcutaneously into each nude mouse. Grafts were removed and examined the vascularization, cell growth and proliferation with anti-CD31, SMA, insulin and ki67 antibodies, respectively, at 8, 14, 21, 29 and 36 days after transplantation. All grafts were well-vascularized with prominent CD31 and SMA staining at all time points. Interestingly, insulin-positive cells and iron-positive cells were scattered in the graft at 8 and 14 days; while clusters of insulin-positive cells without iron-positive cells appeared in the grafts at 21 days and persisted thereafter, indicating neogrowth of MIN6 cells. Moreover, proliferating MIN6 cells with strong ki67 staining was observed in 21-, 29- and 36-day grafts. Our results indicate that the originally transplanted MIN6 cells proliferated from 21 days that presented distinctive bioluminescence and MR images. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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14 pages, 4227 KiB  
Article
pH-Sensitive Degradable Oxalic Acid Crosslinked Hyperbranched Polyglycerol Hydrogel for Controlled Drug Release
by Bianca Andrade de Campos, Natalia Cristina Borges da Silva, Lucas Szmgel Moda, Pedro Vidinha and Lígia Passos Maia-Obi
Polymers 2023, 15(7), 1795; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15071795 - 05 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1916
Abstract
pH-sensitive degradable hydrogels are smart materials that can cleave covalent bonds upon pH variation, leading to their degradation. Their development led to many applications for drug delivery, where drugs can be released in a pH-dependent manner. Crosslinking hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG), a biocompatible building [...] Read more.
pH-sensitive degradable hydrogels are smart materials that can cleave covalent bonds upon pH variation, leading to their degradation. Their development led to many applications for drug delivery, where drugs can be released in a pH-dependent manner. Crosslinking hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG), a biocompatible building block bearing high end-group functionality, using oxalic acid (OA), a diacid that can be synthesized from CO2 and form highly activated ester bonds, can generate this type of smart hydrogel. Aiming to understand the process of developing this novel material and its drug release for oral administration, its formation was studied by varying reactant stoichiometry, concentration and cure procedure and temperature; it was characterized regarding gel percent (%gel), swelling degree (%S), FTIR and thermal behavior; impregnated using ibuprofen, as a model drug, and a release study was carried out at pH 2 and 7. Hydrogel formation was evidenced by its insolubility, FTIR spectra and an increase in Td and Tg; a pre-cure step was shown to be crucial for its formation and an increase in the concentration of the reactants led to higher %gel and lower %S. The impregnation resulted in a matrix-encapsulated system; and the ibuprofen release was negligible at pH 2 but completed at pH 7 due to the hydrolysis of the matrix. A pH-sensitive degradable HPG-OA hydrogel was obtained and it can largely be beneficial in controlled drug release applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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14 pages, 3299 KiB  
Article
Dislodgment Resistance, Adhesive Pattern, and Dentinal Tubule Penetration of a Novel Experimental Algin Biopolymer-Incorporated Bioceramic-Based Root Canal Sealer
by Galvin Sim Siang Lin, Norhayati Luddin, Huwaina Abd Ghani, Josephine Chang Hui Lai and Tahir Yusuf Noorani
Polymers 2023, 15(5), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15051317 - 06 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1578
Abstract
The currently available bioceramic-based sealers still demonstrate low bond strength with a poor seal in root canal despite desirable biological properties. Hence, the present study aimed to determine the dislodgment resistance, adhesive pattern, and dentinal tubule penetration of a novel experimental algin-incorporated bioactive [...] Read more.
The currently available bioceramic-based sealers still demonstrate low bond strength with a poor seal in root canal despite desirable biological properties. Hence, the present study aimed to determine the dislodgment resistance, adhesive pattern, and dentinal tubule penetration of a novel experimental algin-incorporated bioactive glass 58S calcium silicate-based (Bio-G) sealer and compared it with commercialised bioceramic-based sealers. A total of 112 lower premolars were instrumented to size 30. Four groups (n = 16) were assigned for the dislodgment resistance test: control, gutta-percha + Bio-G, gutta-percha + BioRoot RCS, and gutta-percha + iRoot SP, with exclusion of the control group in adhesive pattern and dentinal tubule penetration tests. Obturation was done, and teeth were placed in an incubator to allow sealer setting. For the dentinal tubule penetration test, sealers were mixed with 0.1% of rhodamine B dye. Subsequently, teeth were cut into a 1 mm-thick cross section at 5 mm and 10 mm levels from the root apex, respectively. Push-out bond strength, adhesive pattern, and dentinal tubule penetration tests were performed. Bio-G showed the highest mean push-out bond strength (p < 0.05), while iRoot SP showed the greatest sealer penetration (p < 0.05). Bio-G demonstrated more favourable adhesive patterns. No significant association was noted between dislodgment resistance and dentinal tubule penetration (p > 0.05). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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14 pages, 3818 KiB  
Article
Polyoxyethylene Diamine Modification of Poly(amide-imide)-polyethylene Glycol Exhibits Excellent Hydrophilicity, Degradability, and Biocompatibility
by Ran Yu, Chao Xu, Xiaopei Wu and Honglian Dai
Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4694; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214694 - 03 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1916
Abstract
We designed and synthesized the polyoxyethylene diamine (H2N-PEG-NH2) and poly(amide-imide)-polyethylene glycol (PAI-PEG) copolymers. The physical and chemical properties, mechanical properties, and in vitro biocompatibility of the materials were characterized. The results showed that the best elongation at break and [...] Read more.
We designed and synthesized the polyoxyethylene diamine (H2N-PEG-NH2) and poly(amide-imide)-polyethylene glycol (PAI-PEG) copolymers. The physical and chemical properties, mechanical properties, and in vitro biocompatibility of the materials were characterized. The results showed that the best elongation at break and recovery were obtained when the amount of PEG was 5 wt%. With the increase in PEG content, the degradation rate, hydrophilic property, tensile strength and tensile modulus of the copolymer decreased to a certain extent. The material had the best thermal stability and mechanical properties when 5 wt% PEG was added. Cytocompatibility evaluation showed that the addition of PEG could enhance the cell compatibility of the material and make it potentially suitable for application in bone repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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17 pages, 4416 KiB  
Article
Design of a New 3D Gelatin—Alginate Scaffold Loaded with Cannabis sativa Oil
by Pablo Edmundo Antezana, Sofía Municoy, Gorka Orive and Martín Federico Desimone
Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4506; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214506 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1971
Abstract
There is an increasing medical need for the development of new materials that could replace damaged organs, improve healing of critical wounds or provide the environment required for the formation of a new healthy tissue. The three-dimensional (3D) printing approach has emerged to [...] Read more.
There is an increasing medical need for the development of new materials that could replace damaged organs, improve healing of critical wounds or provide the environment required for the formation of a new healthy tissue. The three-dimensional (3D) printing approach has emerged to overcome several of the major deficiencies of tissue engineering. The use of Cannabis sativa as a therapy for some diseases has spread throughout the world thanks to its benefits for patients. In this work, we developed a bioink made with gelatin and alginate that was able to be printed using an extrusion 3D bioprinter. The scaffolds obtained were lyophilized, characterized and the swelling was assessed. In addition, the scaffolds were loaded with Cannabis sativa oil extract. The presence of the extract provided antimicrobial and antioxidant activity to the 3D scaffolds. Altogether, our results suggest that the new biocompatible material printed with 3D technology and with the addition of Cannabis sativa oil could become an attractive alternative to common treatments of soft-tissue infections and wound repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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12 pages, 4021 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Properties of Partial-Degradable ZrO2–Chitosan Particles–GelMA Composite Scaffolds
by Yang Ji, Mengdie Hou, Jin Zhang, Meiqi Jin, Tianlin Wang, Huazhe Yang and Xiaodong Zhang
Polymers 2022, 14(19), 4233; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14194233 - 09 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1441
Abstract
In the field of bone repair, the inorganic–organic composite scaffold is a promising strategy for mimicking the compositions of the natural bone. In addition, as implants for repairing load-bearing sites, an inert permanent bone substitute composites with bioactive degradable ingredients may make full [...] Read more.
In the field of bone repair, the inorganic–organic composite scaffold is a promising strategy for mimicking the compositions of the natural bone. In addition, as implants for repairing load-bearing sites, an inert permanent bone substitute composites with bioactive degradable ingredients may make full use of the composite scaffold. Herein, the porous zirconia (ZrO2) matrix was prepared via the template replication method, and the partial degradable ZrO2–chitosan particles–GelMA composite scaffolds with different chitosan/GelMA volume ratios were prepared through the vacuum infiltration method. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) were adopted to observe the size of the chitosan particles and the morphologies of the composites scaffold. The mechanical properties, swelling properties, and degradation properties of the composite scaffolds were also characterized by the mechanical properties testing machine and immersion tests. The CCK-8 assay was adopted to test the biocompatibility of the composite scaffold preliminarily. The results show that chitosan particles as small as 60 nm were obtained. In addition, the ratio of chitosan/GelMA can influence the mechanical properties and the swelling and degradation behaviors of the composites scaffold. Furthermore, improved cell proliferation performance was obtained for the composite scaffolds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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16 pages, 3659 KiB  
Article
Poloxamer-Based Hydrogel as Drug Delivery System: How Polymeric Excipients Influence the Chemical-Physical Properties
by Elisa Brambilla, Silvia Locarno, Salvatore Gallo, Francesco Orsini, Carolina Pini, Marco Farronato, Douglas Vieira Thomaz, Cristina Lenardi, Marco Piazzoni and Gianluca Tartaglia
Polymers 2022, 14(17), 3624; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173624 - 01 Sep 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4374
Abstract
Thermogelling amphiphilic block copolymers have been widely investigated in the development of pharmaceutical drug carriers. In particular, thermosensitive gels based on poloxamer 407 (P407) have great potential for periodontal disease treatment, thanks to their ability to be liquid at room temperature and become [...] Read more.
Thermogelling amphiphilic block copolymers have been widely investigated in the development of pharmaceutical drug carriers. In particular, thermosensitive gels based on poloxamer 407 (P407) have great potential for periodontal disease treatment, thanks to their ability to be liquid at room temperature and become viscous gels at body temperature. However, some problems, related to short in situ residence time, reduce their feasible clinical use. Thus, in order to improve the effective applicability of these materials, we studied how P407 thermogels are affected by the pH and by the inclusion of different hydrophilic polymers, used as excipients for increasing the gel stiffness. For this scope, a complete chemical-physical characterization of the synthesized gels is provided, in terms of determination of sol-gel transition temperature, viscosity and erosion degree. The data are correlated according to a statistical multivariate approach based on Principal Component Analysis and their mucoadhesion properties are also tested by Tapping mode-Atomic Force Microscopy (TM-AFM) imaging. Finally, we studied how the different P407 formulations are able to influence the release pathway of two antibacterial drugs (i.e., chlorhexidine digluconate and doxycycline hyclate) largely used in oral diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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13 pages, 2378 KiB  
Article
Construction and Evaluation of Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Oral Administration of Exenatide in Type 2 Diabetic Rats
by Jian-Miao Yang, Lin-Jie Wu, Meng-Ting Lin, Yi-Ying Lu, Tian-Tian Wang, Min Han, Bin Zhang and Dong-Hang Xu
Polymers 2022, 14(11), 2181; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14112181 - 27 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1906 | Correction
Abstract
Oral delivery of therapeutic peptides has been a daunting challenge due to poor transport across the tight junctions and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. Numerous advancement in nanomedicine has been made for the effective delivery of protein and peptide. Owing [...] Read more.
Oral delivery of therapeutic peptides has been a daunting challenge due to poor transport across the tight junctions and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. Numerous advancement in nanomedicine has been made for the effective delivery of protein and peptide. Owing to the superior performance of chitosan in opening intercellular tight junctions of epithelium and excellent mucoadhesive properties, chitosan-based nanocarriers have recently garnered considerable attention, which was formulated in this paper to orally deliver the GLP-1 drug (Exenatide). Against this backdrop, we used chitosan (CS) polymers to encapsulate the exenatide, sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as the cross-linking agent and coated the exterior with sodium alginate (ALG) to impart the stability in an acidic environment. The chitosan/alginate nanoparticles (CS-TPP-ALG) functioned as a protective exenatide carrier, realized efficient cellular uptake and controlled release, leading to a steady hypoglycemic effect and a good oral bioavailability in vivo. Trimethyl chitosan (TMC), a chitosan derivative with stronger positive electrical properties was additionally selected as a substitute for chitosan to construct the TMC-TPP-ALG nanoparticle, and its oral peptide delivery capacity was explored in terms of both characterization and pharmacodynamics studies. Overall, our study demonstrated that functional chitosan/alginate nanoparticles can protect proteins from enzymatic degradation and enhance oral absorption, which presents important research value and application prospects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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Review

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27 pages, 7218 KiB  
Review
Chitosan, Gelatin, and Collagen Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration
by Karen Guillén-Carvajal, Benjamín Valdez-Salas, Ernesto Beltrán-Partida, Jorge Salomón-Carlos and Nelson Cheng
Polymers 2023, 15(13), 2762; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15132762 - 21 Jun 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3592
Abstract
Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials characterized by three-dimensional, cross-linked, highly hydrated polymeric networks. These polymers exhibit a great variety of biochemical and biophysical properties, which allow for the diffusion of diverse molecules, such as drugs, active ingredients, growth factors, and nanoparticles. Meanwhile, these polymers [...] Read more.
Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials characterized by three-dimensional, cross-linked, highly hydrated polymeric networks. These polymers exhibit a great variety of biochemical and biophysical properties, which allow for the diffusion of diverse molecules, such as drugs, active ingredients, growth factors, and nanoparticles. Meanwhile, these polymers can control chemical and molecular interactions at the cellular level. The polymeric network can be molded into different structures, imitating the structural characteristics of surrounding tissues and bone defects. Interestingly, the application of hydrogels in bone tissue engineering (BTE) has been gathering significant attention due to the beneficial bone improvement results that have been achieved. Moreover, essential clinical and osteoblastic fate-controlling advances have been achieved with the use of synthetic polymers in the production of hydrogels. However, current trends look towards fabricating hydrogels from biological precursors, such as biopolymers, due to the high biocompatibility, degradability, and mechanical control that can be regulated. Therefore, this review analyzes the concept of hydrogels and the characteristics of chitosan, collagen, and gelatin as excellent candidates for fabricating BTE scaffolds. The changes and opportunities brought on by these biopolymers in bone regeneration are discussed, considering the integration, synergy, and biocompatibility features. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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52 pages, 11244 KiB  
Review
Multifunctional Self-Assembled Peptide Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
by Mahsa Sedighi, Neha Shrestha, Zahra Mahmoudi, Zahra Khademi, Alireza Ghasempour, Hamideh Dehghan, Seyedeh Fahimeh Talebi, Maryam Toolabi, Véronique Préat, Bozhi Chen, Xindong Guo and Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi
Polymers 2023, 15(5), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15051160 - 25 Feb 2023
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3679
Abstract
Self-assembly is a growth mechanism in nature to apply local interactions forming a minimum energy structure. Currently, self-assembled materials are considered for biomedical applications due to their pleasant features, including scalability, versatility, simplicity, and inexpensiveness. Self-assembled peptides can be applied to design and [...] Read more.
Self-assembly is a growth mechanism in nature to apply local interactions forming a minimum energy structure. Currently, self-assembled materials are considered for biomedical applications due to their pleasant features, including scalability, versatility, simplicity, and inexpensiveness. Self-assembled peptides can be applied to design and fabricate different structures, such as micelles, hydrogels, and vesicles, by diverse physical interactions between specific building blocks. Among them, bioactivity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of peptide hydrogels have introduced them as versatile platforms in biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensing, and treating different diseases. Moreover, peptides are capable of mimicking the microenvironment of natural tissues and responding to internal and external stimuli for triggered drug release. In the current review, the unique characteristics of peptide hydrogels and recent advances in their design, fabrication, as well as chemical, physical, and biological properties are presented. Additionally, recent developments of these biomaterials are discussed with a particular focus on their biomedical applications in targeted drug delivery and gene delivery, stem cell therapy, cancer therapy and immune regulation, bioimaging, and regenerative medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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18 pages, 4639 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Smart Hydrogels Prepared by Ionizing Radiation Technology for Biomedical Applications
by Jinyu Yang, Lu Rao, Yayang Wang, Yuan Zhao, Dongliang Liu, Zhijun Wang, Lili Fu, Yifan Wang, Xiaojie Yang, Yuesheng Li and Yi Liu
Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4377; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14204377 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2219
Abstract
Materials with excellent biocompatibility and targeting can be widely used in the biomedical field. Hydrogels are an excellent biomedical material, which are similar to living tissue and cannot affect the metabolic process of living organisms. Moreover, the three-dimensional network structure of hydrogel is [...] Read more.
Materials with excellent biocompatibility and targeting can be widely used in the biomedical field. Hydrogels are an excellent biomedical material, which are similar to living tissue and cannot affect the metabolic process of living organisms. Moreover, the three-dimensional network structure of hydrogel is conducive to the storage and slow release of drugs. Compared to the traditional hydrogel preparation technologies, ionizing radiation technology has high efficiency, is green, and has environmental protection. This technology can easily adjust mechanical properties, swelling, and so on. This review provides a classification of hydrogels and different preparation methods and highlights the advantages of ionizing radiation technology in smart hydrogels used for biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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25 pages, 8507 KiB  
Review
Research Progress on Emerging Polysaccharide Materials Applied in Tissue Engineering
by Chunyu Su, Yutong Chen, Shujing Tian, Chunxiu Lu and Qizhuang Lv
Polymers 2022, 14(16), 3268; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14163268 - 11 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2418
Abstract
The development and application of polysaccharide materials are popular areas of research. Emerging polysaccharide materials have been widely used in tissue engineering fields such as in skin trauma, bone defects, cartilage repair and arthritis due to their stability, good biocompatibility and reproducibility. This [...] Read more.
The development and application of polysaccharide materials are popular areas of research. Emerging polysaccharide materials have been widely used in tissue engineering fields such as in skin trauma, bone defects, cartilage repair and arthritis due to their stability, good biocompatibility and reproducibility. This paper reviewed the recent progress of the application of polysaccharide materials in tissue engineering. Firstly, we introduced polysaccharide materials and their derivatives and summarized the physicochemical properties of polysaccharide materials and their application in tissue engineering after modification. Secondly, we introduced the processing methods of polysaccharide materials, including the processing of polysaccharides into amorphous hydrogels, microspheres and membranes. Then, we summarized the application of polysaccharide materials in tissue engineering. Finally, some views on the research and application of polysaccharide materials are presented. The purpose of this review was to summarize the current research progress on polysaccharide materials with special attention paid to the application of polysaccharide materials in tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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21 pages, 1093 KiB  
Review
Natural Biopolymers as Additional Tools for Cell Microencapsulation Applied to Cellular Therapy
by Liana Monteiro da Fonseca Cardoso, Tatiane Barreto, Jaciara Fernanda Gomes Gama and Luiz Anastacio Alves
Polymers 2022, 14(13), 2641; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14132641 - 29 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2350
Abstract
One of the limitations in organ, tissue or cellular transplantations is graft rejection. To minimize or prevent this, recipients must make use of immunosuppressive drugs (IS) throughout their entire lives. However, its continuous use generally causes several side effects. Although some IS dose [...] Read more.
One of the limitations in organ, tissue or cellular transplantations is graft rejection. To minimize or prevent this, recipients must make use of immunosuppressive drugs (IS) throughout their entire lives. However, its continuous use generally causes several side effects. Although some IS dose reductions and withdrawal strategies have been employed, many patients do not adapt to these protocols and must return to conventional IS use. Therefore, many studies have been carried out to offer treatments that may avoid IS administration in the long term. A promising strategy is cellular microencapsulation. The possibility of microencapsulating cells originates from the opportunity to use biomaterials that mimic the extracellular matrix. This matrix acts as a support for cell adhesion and the syntheses of new extracellular matrix self-components followed by cell growth and survival. Furthermore, by involving the cells in a polymeric matrix, the matrix acts as an immunoprotective barrier, protecting cells against the recipient’s immune system while still allowing essential cell survival molecules to diffuse bilaterally through the polymer matrix pores. In addition, this matrix can be associated with IS, thus diminishing systemic side effects. In this context, this review will address the natural biomaterials currently in use and their importance in cell therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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20 pages, 3207 KiB  
Review
Mechanism of Self-Healing Hydrogels and Application in Tissue Engineering
by Liang Quan, Yuan Xin, Xixi Wu and Qiang Ao
Polymers 2022, 14(11), 2184; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14112184 - 27 May 2022
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3514
Abstract
Self-healing hydrogels and traditional hydrogels both have three-dimensional polymeric networks that are capable of absorbing and retaining a large amount of water. Self-healing hydrogels can heal and restore damage automatically, and they can avoid premature failure of hydrogels caused by mechanical damage after [...] Read more.
Self-healing hydrogels and traditional hydrogels both have three-dimensional polymeric networks that are capable of absorbing and retaining a large amount of water. Self-healing hydrogels can heal and restore damage automatically, and they can avoid premature failure of hydrogels caused by mechanical damage after implantation. The formation mechanism of self-healing hydrogels and the factors that hydrogels can load are various. Researchers can design hydrogels to meet the needs of different tissues through the diversity of hydrogels Therefore, it is necessary to summarize different self-healing mechanisms and different factors to achieve different functions. Here, we briefly reviewed the hydrogels designed by researchers in recent years according to the self-healing mechanism of water coagulation. Then, the factors for different functions of self-healing hydrogels in different tissues were statistically analyzed. We hope our work can provide effective support for researchers in the design process of self-healing hydrogel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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Other

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2 pages, 7142 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Yang et al. Construction and Evaluation of Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Oral Administration of Exenatide in Type 2 Diabetic Rats. Polymers 2022, 14, 2181
by Jian-Miao Yang, Lin-Jie Wu, Meng-Ting Lin, Yi-Ying Lu, Tian-Tian Wang, Min Han, Bin Zhang and Dong-Hang Xu
Polymers 2023, 15(13), 2852; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15132852 - 28 Jun 2023
Viewed by 2053
Abstract
The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Intelligent Hydrogel)
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