Microengineered hydrogels for tissue engineering.
Hydrogels have been extensively used in various biomedical applications such as drug delivery and biosensing. More recently the ability to engineer the size and shape of biologically relevant hydrogels has generated new opportunities in addressing challenges in tissue engineering such as vascularization, tissue architecture and cell seeding. Here, we discuss the use of microengineered hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. We will initially provide an overview of the various approaches that can be used to synthesize hydrogels with controlled features and will subsequently discuss the emerging applications of these hydrogels.
Khademhosseini
Ali
A
Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. alik@mit.edu
Langer
Robert
R
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005782:Gels; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D005780:Gelatin