Rational Design of Smart Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Yanyu Zhang; Yishun Huang

doi:10.3389/fchem.2020.615665

Rational Design of Smart Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Front Chem. 2021 Feb 4:8:615665. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2020.615665. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Yanyu Zhang^{1

2}, Yishun Huang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Analytical Technology and Smart Instruments, Xiamen Huaxia University, Xiamen, China.
² Engineering Research Center of Fujian Province, Xiamen Huaxia University, Xiamen, China.

Abstract

Hydrogels are polymeric three-dimensional network structures with high water content. Due to their superior biocompatibility and low toxicity, hydrogels play a significant role in the biomedical fields. Hydrogels are categorized by the composition from natural polymers to synthetic polymers. To meet the complicated situation in the biomedical applications, suitable host-guest supramolecular interactions are rationally selected. This review will have an introduction of hydrogel classification based on the formulation molecules, and then a discussion over the rational design of the intelligent hydrogel to the environmental stimuli such as temperature, irradiation, pH, and targeted biomolecules. Further, the applications of rationally designed smart hydrogels in the biomedical field will be presented, such as tissue repair, drug delivery, and cancer therapy. Finally, the perspectives and the challenges of smart hydrogels will be outlined.

Keywords: biomedical; hydrogel; natural polymer; responsibility; synthetic polymer.

Publication types

Review