Hydrogel materials - properties and potential biomedical applications

Abstract

Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric networks that are capable of self-supporting, swellling in water, allowing the diffusion and attachment of molecules and cells. Recently, hydrogels have been of great interest to many researchers due to their wide applications in biomedical fields including cellular therapeutics, wound healing, regeneration of cartilage/bone, and sustained drug releases. This is ascribed to the biocompatibility and similarity of hydrogels’ properties to natural tissues. The review gives an overview of hydrogel materials in terms of history, properties as well as potential biomedical applications