Designing injectable, covalently cross-linked hydrogels for biomedical applications.
Hydrogels that can form spontaneously via covalent bond formation upon injection in vivo have recently attracted significant attention for their potential to address a variety of biomedical challenges. This review discusses the design rules for the effective engineering of such materials, and the major chemistries used to form injectable, in situ gelling hydrogels in the context of these design guidelines are outlined (with examples). Directions for future research in the area are addressed, noting the outstanding challenges associated with the use of this class of hydrogels in vivo.
Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4L7.
Mathew
M
Patenaude
Niels M B
NM
Smeets
Todd
T
Hoare
D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers
biomaterials; covalent cross-linking; in situ gelation; injectable hydrogels; polymer engineering