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Polymers
Volume 13
Issue 21
10.3390/polym13213782
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Review

Self-Healing Hydrogels: Preparation, Mechanism and Advancement in Biomedical Applications

by
Anupama Devi V. K.
1,2,
Rohin Shyam
1,2,
Arunkumar Palaniappan
1,
Amit Kumar Jaiswal
1,*,
Tae-Hwan Oh
3 and
Arputharaj Joseph Nathanael
1,*
1
Tissue Engineering Group, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics (CBCMT), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
2
School of Bio Sciences and Technology (SBST), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
3
School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Polymers 2021, 13(21), 3782; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213782
Submission received: 30 June 2021 / Revised: 25 October 2021 / Accepted: 26 October 2021 / Published: 31 October 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Biocompatible System)
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Abstract

Polymeric hydrogels are widely explored materials for biomedical applications. However, they have inherent limitations like poor resistance to stimuli and low mechanical strength. This drawback of hydrogels gave rise to ‘‘smart self-healing hydrogels’’ which autonomously repair themselves when ruptured or traumatized. It is superior in terms of durability and stability due to its capacity to reform its shape, injectability, and stretchability thereby regaining back the original mechanical property. This review focuses on various self-healing mechanisms (covalent and non-covalent interactions) of these hydrogels, methods used to evaluate their self-healing properties, and their applications in wound healing, drug delivery, cell encapsulation, and tissue engineering systems. Furthermore, composite materials are used to enhance the hydrogel’s mechanical properties. Hence, findings of research with various composite materials are briefly discussed in order to emphasize the healing capacity of such hydrogels. Additionally, various methods to evaluate the self-healing properties of hydrogels and their recent advancements towards 3D bioprinting are also reviewed. The review is concluded by proposing several pertinent challenges encountered at present as well as some prominent future perspectives.
Keywords: self-healing; dynamic bonds; hydrogels; wound healing; drug delivery; cell delivery; tissue engineering self-healing; dynamic bonds; hydrogels; wound healing; drug delivery; cell delivery; tissue engineering
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MDPI and ACS Style

Devi V. K., A.; Shyam, R.; Palaniappan, A.; Jaiswal, A.K.; Oh, T.-H.; Nathanael, A.J. Self-Healing Hydrogels: Preparation, Mechanism and Advancement in Biomedical Applications. Polymers 2021, 13, 3782. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213782

AMA Style

Devi V. K. A, Shyam R, Palaniappan A, Jaiswal AK, Oh T-H, Nathanael AJ. Self-Healing Hydrogels: Preparation, Mechanism and Advancement in Biomedical Applications. Polymers. 2021; 13(21):3782. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213782

Chicago/Turabian Style

Devi V. K., Anupama, Rohin Shyam, Arunkumar Palaniappan, Amit Kumar Jaiswal, Tae-Hwan Oh, and Arputharaj Joseph Nathanael. 2021. "Self-Healing Hydrogels: Preparation, Mechanism and Advancement in Biomedical Applications" Polymers 13, no. 21: 3782. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213782

APA Style

Devi V. K., A., Shyam, R., Palaniappan, A., Jaiswal, A. K., Oh, T.-H., & Nathanael, A. J. (2021). Self-Healing Hydrogels: Preparation, Mechanism and Advancement in Biomedical Applications. Polymers, 13(21), 3782. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213782

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