Advances in Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Application

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 11578

Special Issue Editor

National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
Interests: drug delivery; smart-responsive; hydrogel; nanoparticle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to its three-dimensional hydrophilic network structure, multifunctional hydrogels have always been the focus of academic research as functional materials to simulate human natural tissues. Because of its excellent permeability, water absorption, biocompatibility and biodegradability, multifunctional hydrogels have become one of the most promising materials in the field of biomedicine, especially in tissue engineering and drug delivery. However, there are still many problems in the application of multifunctional hydrogels, such as complex synthesis and poor structural stability. Therefore, how to construct multifunctional hydrogels with excellent performance by using novel design ideas and solve the problems in biomedical applications is the focus of current research. This special issue "Advances in Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Application" will introduce the preparation, characterization and application of multifunctional hydrogels in biomedical field. In this issue, we will discuss the latest research progress on multifunctional hydrogels, including new synthesis and cross-linking methods, characterization methods and biomedical applications. Although multifunctional hydrogels have made important advances in drug/unit delivery, tissue engineering and tissue repair, research advances in applications and multifunctional hydrogels in the biomedical field require interdisciplinary efforts to achieve a more detailed understanding of defining structural interrelationships, properties and applications of multifunctional hydrogels. The realization of the above goals will greatly promote the personalized and customized development of multifunctional hydrogels, and promote its application in the treatment of various diseases.

Dr. Cheng Hu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • multifunctional hydrogels
  • novel preparation and characterization of hydrogel system
  • biomedical hydrogels
  • drug/cell delivery
  • tissue repair

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 4887 KiB  
Article
Synthesis, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Biocompatibility of Multi-Component Collagen-Based Hydrogels Developed by E-Beam Irradiation
by Maria Demeter, Andreea Mariana Negrescu, Ion Calina, Anca Scarisoreanu, Mădălina Albu Kaya, Marin Micutz, Marius Dumitru and Anisoara Cimpean
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(9), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14090454 - 1 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2263
Abstract
Herein, three different recipes of multi-component hydrogels were synthesized by e-beam irradiation. These hydrogels were obtained from aqueous polymer mixtures in which different proportions of bovine collagen gel, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), chitosan, and poly(ethylene oxide) were used. The cross-linking reaction was carried [...] Read more.
Herein, three different recipes of multi-component hydrogels were synthesized by e-beam irradiation. These hydrogels were obtained from aqueous polymer mixtures in which different proportions of bovine collagen gel, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), chitosan, and poly(ethylene oxide) were used. The cross-linking reaction was carried out exclusively by e-beam cross-linking at 25 kGy, a dose of irradiation sufficient both to complete the cross-linking reaction and effective for hydrogel sterilization. The hydrogels developed in this study were tested in terms of physical and chemical stability, mechanical, structural, morphological, and biological properties. They are transparent, maintain their structure, are non-adhesive when handling, and most importantly, especially from the application point of view, have an elastic structure. Likewise, these hydrogels possessed different swelling degrees and expressed rheological behavior characteristic of soft solids with permanent macromolecular network. Morphologically, collagen- and CMC based-hydrogels showed porous structures with homogeneously distributed pores assuring a good loading capacity with drugs. These hydrogels were investigated by indirect and direct contact studies with Vero cell line (CCL-81™, ATCC), demonstrating that they are well tolerated by normal cells and, therefore, showed promising potential for further use in the development of drug delivery systems based on hydrogels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Application)
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Review

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22 pages, 5371 KiB  
Review
Rational Design of Multifunctional Hydrogels for Wound Repair
by Juan Cao, Bo Wu, Ping Yuan, Yeqi Liu and Cheng Hu
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(11), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14110553 - 18 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2585
Abstract
The intricate microenvironment at the wound site, coupled with the multi-phase nature of the healing process, pose significant challenges to the development of wound repair treatments. In recent years, applying the distinctive benefits of hydrogels to the development of wound repair strategies has [...] Read more.
The intricate microenvironment at the wound site, coupled with the multi-phase nature of the healing process, pose significant challenges to the development of wound repair treatments. In recent years, applying the distinctive benefits of hydrogels to the development of wound repair strategies has yielded some promising results. Multifunctional hydrogels, by meeting the different requirements of wound healing stages, have greatly improved the healing effectiveness of chronic wounds, offering immense potential in wound repair applications. This review summarized the recent research and applications of multifunctional hydrogels in wound repair. The focus was placed on the research progress of diverse multifunctional hydrogels, and their mechanisms of action at different stages of wound repair were discussed in detail. Through a comprehensive analysis, we found that multifunctional hydrogels play an indispensable role in the process of wound repair by providing a moist environment, controlling inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, and effectively preventing infection. However, further implementation of multifunctional hydrogel-based therapeutic strategies also faces various challenges, such as the contradiction between the complexity of multifunctionality and the simplicity required for clinical translation and application. In the future, we should work to address these challenges, further optimize the design and preparation of multifunctional hydrogels, enhance their effectiveness in wound repair, and promote their widespread application in clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Application)
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21 pages, 2662 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress of In Vitro 3D Culture of Male Germ Stem Cells
by Jiang Wu, Kai Kang, Siqi Liu, Yaodan Ma, Meng Yu and Xin Zhao
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(11), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14110543 - 8 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2465
Abstract
Male germline stem cells (mGSCs), also known as spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), are the fundamental seed cells of male animal reproductive physiology. However, environmental influences, drugs, and harmful substances often pose challenges to SSCs, such as population reduction and quality decline. With advancements [...] Read more.
Male germline stem cells (mGSCs), also known as spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), are the fundamental seed cells of male animal reproductive physiology. However, environmental influences, drugs, and harmful substances often pose challenges to SSCs, such as population reduction and quality decline. With advancements in bioengineering technology and biomaterial technology, an increasing number of novel cell culture methods and techniques have been employed for studying the proliferation and differentiation of SSCs in vitro. This paper provides a review on recent progress in 3D culture techniques for SSCs in vitro; we summarize the microenvironment of SSCs and spermatocyte development, with a focus on scaffold-based culture methods and 3D printing cell culture techniques for SSCs. Additionally, decellularized testicular matrix (DTM) and other biological substrates are utilized through various combinations and approaches to construct an in vitro culture microenvironment suitable for SSC growth. Finally, we present some perspectives on current research trends and potential opportunities within three areas: the 3D printing niche environment, alternative options to DTM utilization, and advancement of the in vitro SSC culture technology system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Application)
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25 pages, 5952 KiB  
Review
Doped Carbon Quantum Dots Reinforced Hydrogels for Sustained Delivery of Molecular Cargo
by Shweta Kanungo, Neeta Gupta, Reena Rawat, Bhawana Jain, Aruna Solanki, Ashutosh Panday, P. Das and S. Ganguly
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(3), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14030166 - 20 Mar 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3526
Abstract
Hydrogels have emerged as important soft materials with numerous applications in fields including biomedicine, biomimetic smart materials, and electrochemistry. Because of their outstanding photo-physical properties and prolonged colloidal stability, the serendipitous findings of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have introduced a new topic of [...] Read more.
Hydrogels have emerged as important soft materials with numerous applications in fields including biomedicine, biomimetic smart materials, and electrochemistry. Because of their outstanding photo-physical properties and prolonged colloidal stability, the serendipitous findings of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have introduced a new topic of investigation for materials scientists. CQDs confined polymeric hydrogel nanocomposites have emerged as novel materials with integrated properties of the individual constituents, resulting in vital uses in the realm of soft nanomaterials. Immobilizing CQDs within hydrogels has been shown to be a smart tactic for preventing the aggregation-caused quenching effect and also for manipulating the characteristics of hydrogels and introducing new properties. The combination of these two very different types of materials results in not only structural diversity but also significant improvements in many property aspects, leading to novel multifunctional materials. This review covers the synthesis of doped CQDs, different fabrication techniques for nanostructured materials made of CQDs and polymers, as well as their applications in sustained drug delivery. Finally, a brief overview of the present market and future perspectives are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Application)
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