Recent Advances in Injectable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Injectable hydrogels, a class of hydrogel, have received a lot of attention in biomedical applications due to its versatility. It is reported that injectable hydrogel can be applied in various biomedical procedures for example as submucosal fluid cushion, periodontal implant, and cartilage and bone tissue engineering. In addition to its easy delivery (implantation), this class of hydrogel can be tailored to match specific applications. The customization of this hydrogel can be easily executed by changing polymeric backbone of hydrogel, choosing different types of crosslinking or by adding nanoparticles to form hybrid hydrogel systems. Physical properties, compatibility and biodegradability of the resulted materials are important factors for designing injectable hydrogels. In this Recent Research Progress, we highlight the state-of-the-art injectable hydrogels and note the general requirements of an ideal injectable hydrogel for biomedical applications.