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Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels
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Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymeric Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 October 2024) | Viewed by 10362

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Joanna Zemła

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Guest Editor
Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342 Kraków, Poland
Interests: hydrogel rheology; thin polymer films; microcontact printing; functional polymers; smart polymer coatings; protein adsorption; cell adhesion; biomechanics of cells; rheology of cells and tissues; bacterial adhesion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sara Metwally

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Guest Editor
Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342 Kraków, Poland
Interests: synthesis, structure and mechanical properties of hydrogels; polymer nanofibers; electrospinning; cell-scaffolds interaction; conductive polymers; tissue engineering; biomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Materials (IF: 3.748) is dedicated to recent advances in hydrogel-based materials synthesis and characterization. Natural and synthetic hydrogel-based materials are widely used for biomedical applications such as regenerative medicine, drug delivery, drug screening, tissue engineering, and biosensors. They also contribute to non-medical areas like sensing, anti-marine-creature fouling, energy storage, and water technology. The diversity of their applications still inspires research on the engineering of novel hydrogel materials today. New methods for the synthesis of hydrogels are highly desirable. These promising materials must be well-characterized concerning physical (mechanics, rheology, swelling, transparency, diffusion) and chemical (pH- or temperature-induced degradation, toxicity, crosslinking).

The topics of interest for this Special Issue on the Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels 

include, but are not limited to:

  • Hydrogels for tissue engineering;
  • Hydrogels for cancer therapy;
  • Hydrogel drug release mechanisms;
  • Hydrogels for 3D bioprinting;
  • Smart hydrogels;
  • Hybrid hydrogels synthesis;
  • Hydrogels rheology;
  • Hydrogels modifications and properties;
  • Mathematical modeling of hydrogels;
  • Diffusion in hydrogels;
  • Degradable hydrogels;
  • Swelling of hydrogels.

Considering your distinguished contribution to this substantial research field, we cordially invite you to submit an article to this Special Issue. Full research papers, communications, and review articles are welcome.

Dr. Joanna Zemla
Dr. Sara Metwally
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hydrogels
  • 3D bioprinting
  • rheology
  • smart hydrogels
  • hydrogels modeling
  • drug carriers

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3115 KiB  
Article
Facile Preparation of Irradiated Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Cellulose Nanofiber Hydrogels with Ultrahigh Mechanical Properties for Artificial Joint Cartilage
by Yang Chen, Mingcheng Yang, Weiwei Zhang, Wenhui Guo, Xiuqiang Zhang and Benshang Zhang
Materials 2024, 17(16), 4125; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17164125 - 20 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 805
Abstract
In this study, Poly(vinyl alcohol)/cellulose nanofiber (PVA/CNF) hydrogels have been successfully prepared using γ-ray irradiation, annealing, and rehydration processes. In addition, the effects of CNF content and annealing methods on the hydrogel properties, including gel fraction, micromorphology, crystallinity, swelling behavior, and tensile and [...] Read more.
In this study, Poly(vinyl alcohol)/cellulose nanofiber (PVA/CNF) hydrogels have been successfully prepared using γ-ray irradiation, annealing, and rehydration processes. In addition, the effects of CNF content and annealing methods on the hydrogel properties, including gel fraction, micromorphology, crystallinity, swelling behavior, and tensile and friction properties, are investigated. Consequently, the results show that at an absorbed dose of 30 kGy, the increase in CNF content increases the gel fraction, tensile strength, and elongation at break of irradiated PVA/CNF hydrogels, but decreases the water absorption. In addition, the cross-linking density of the PVA/CNF hydrogels is significantly increased at an annealing temperature of 80 °C, which leads to the transition of the cross-sectional micromorphology from porous networks to smooth planes. For the PVA/CNF hydrogel with a CNF content of 0.6%, the crystallinity increases from 19.9% to 25.8% after tensile annealing of 30% compared to the original composite hydrogel. The tensile strength is substantially increased from 65.5 kPa to 21.2 MPa, and the modulus of elasticity reaches 4.2 MPa. Furthermore, it shows an extremely low coefficient of friction (0.075), which suggests that it has the potential to be applied as a material for artificial joint cartilage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels)
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Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>Schematic diagram of (<b>a</b>) the PVA/CNF hydrogel preparation and (<b>b</b>) Annealing treatment.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Gel fraction of irradiated PVA/CNF hydrogels.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>FTIR spectra of the (<b>a</b>) PVA hydrogels, (<b>b</b>) irradiated PVA/CNF hydrogels (CNF 0.9%), and (<b>c</b>) 30% stretch annealed PVA/CNF hydrogels (0.9%).</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Photos and SEM images of the PVA/CNF hydrogels. (<b>a</b>,<b>b</b>) Irradiated PVA hydrogels, (<b>c</b>,<b>d</b>) annealed PVA/CNF hydrogels (0.9% CNF), (<b>e</b>,<b>f</b>) in situ-annealed PVA/CNF hydrogels (0.6% CNF).</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>(<b>a</b>) Swelling behavior curves of irradiated PVA/CNF hydrogels, (<b>b</b>) equilibrium swelling degree of annealed PVA/CNF hydrogels.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>DSC thermograms of 0.6% CNF hydrogels. (<b>a</b>) Irradiated hydrogels, (<b>b</b>) annealed hydrogels, (<b>c</b>) in situ-annealed hydrogels, (<b>d</b>) 30% stretch annealed hydrogels.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>(<b>a</b>) Tensile stress–strain curves and (<b>b</b>) tensile strength and elongation at break of irradiated PVA/CNF hydrogels.</p> Full article ">Figure 8
<p>1 kg of weight lifted by the 0.6% CNF with 30% stretch hydrogel.</p> Full article ">Figure 9
<p>Tensile strength and elongation at break of PVA/CNF hydrogels. (<b>a</b>) Stress–strain curves, (<b>b</b>) elastic modulus, (<b>c</b>) tensile strength, (<b>d</b>) elongation at break.</p> Full article ">Figure 10
<p>Friction properties of in situ-annealed PVA/CNF hydrogels: (<b>a</b>) long time friction test curves, (<b>b</b>) coefficient of friction.</p> Full article ">
14 pages, 3980 KiB  
Article
Whey Protein Isolate/Calcium Silicate Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications—Preliminary In Vitro Evaluation
by Tayla Ivory-Cousins, Aleksandra Nurzynska, Katarzyna Klimek, Daniel K. Baines, Wieslaw Truszkiewicz, Krzysztof Pałka and Timothy E. L. Douglas
Materials 2023, 16(19), 6484; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16196484 - 29 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1680
Abstract
Whey protein isolate (WPI) hydrogels are attractive biomaterials for application in bone repair and regeneration. However, their main limitation is low mechanical strength. Therefore, to improve these properties, the incorporation of ceramic phases into hydrogel matrices is currently being performed. In this study, [...] Read more.
Whey protein isolate (WPI) hydrogels are attractive biomaterials for application in bone repair and regeneration. However, their main limitation is low mechanical strength. Therefore, to improve these properties, the incorporation of ceramic phases into hydrogel matrices is currently being performed. In this study, novel whey protein isolate/calcium silicate (WPI/CaSiO3) hydrogel biomaterials were prepared with varying concentrations of a ceramic phase (CaSiO3). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the introduction of CaSiO3 to a WPI hydrogel matrix on its physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties. Our Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy results showed that CaSiO3 was successfully incorporated into the WPI hydrogel matrix to create composite biomaterials. Swelling tests indicated that the addition of 5% (w/v) CaSiO3 caused greater swelling compared to biomaterials without CaSiO3 and ultimate compressive strength and strain at break. Cell culture experiments demonstrated that WPI hydrogel biomaterials enriched with CaSiO3 demonstrated superior cytocompatibility in vitro compared to the control hydrogel biomaterials without CaSiO3. Thus, this study revealed that the addition of CaSiO3 to WPI-based hydrogel biomaterials renders them more promising for bone tissue engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels)
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Graphical abstract

Graphical abstract
Full article ">Figure 1
<p>SEM images and EDS spectra of WPI-based biomaterials: 40/0 (control), 40/2.32, and 40/5.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Ability of WPI-based biomaterials (40/0 (control), 40/2.23, and 40/5) to swell in contact with PBS (<b>A</b>) or SBF (<b>B</b>) after 24, 48, and 168 h of incubation.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Comparative compression test results for WPI-based biomaterials: 40/0 (control), 40/2.23, and 40/5 (<span class="html-italic">n</span> = 10). (<b>A</b>) Young’s Modulus; (<b>B</b>) ultimate compressive strength; (<b>C</b>) compressive strain at break. Error bars show standard deviation. Significances based on One-Way ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison, <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.05 (*: <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.05; ***: <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.001).</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>ATR-FTIR spectra for WPI-based biomaterials: 40/0 (control) and 40/5 (<b>A</b>) as well as CaSiO<sub>3</sub> powder (<b>B</b>).</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Proliferation of human osteoblasts cultured on the 40/0 and 40/5 biomaterials after 3 and 6 days of incubation. Metabolic activity was assessed via the WST-8 assay (<b>A</b>). * Significantly different results compared to control (cells cultured on polystyrene, PS) according to Two-Way ANOVA test, followed by Bonferroni comparison test, <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.05. No statistical differences were observed between the biomaterials. Cell morphology (<b>B</b>) was visualized by staining cell nuclei (Hoechst 33342 dye) and actin filaments of the cytoskeleton (AlexaFluor 635 dye). Cells were observed under a confocal microscope, magnification 100×, scale bar = 150 μm.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Relative expression level of genes: collagen I (Col I), bone alkaline phosphatase (bALP), and osteocalcin (OC) in human osteoblasts that grew on 40/0 and 40/5 biomaterials. The data were normalized to the expression level of genes in cells maintained on polystyrene (PS). * Significantly different results compared to expression level in cells that grew on PS; <sup>#</sup> Significantly different results compared to expression level in cells that grew on WPI hydrogel; One-Way ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison, <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.05.</p> Full article ">
12 pages, 4465 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Characterization of Agarose Hydrogels for Release of Diclofenac Sodium
by Anna Jarosz, Oliwia Kapusta, Dorota Gugała-Fekner and Mariusz Barczak
Materials 2023, 16(17), 6042; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16176042 - 2 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1549
Abstract
Hydrogels are attractive biomaterials for the controlled release of various pharmaceuticals, due to their ability to embed biologically active moieties in a 3D polymer network. Among them, agarose-based hydrogels are an interesting, but still not fully explored, group of potential platforms for controlled [...] Read more.
Hydrogels are attractive biomaterials for the controlled release of various pharmaceuticals, due to their ability to embed biologically active moieties in a 3D polymer network. Among them, agarose-based hydrogels are an interesting, but still not fully explored, group of potential platforms for controlled drug release. In this work, agarose hydrogels with various contents of citric acid were prepared, and their mechanical and physicochemical properties were investigated using various instrumental techniques, such as rheological measurements, attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Releasing tests for diclofenac sodium (DICL) were run in various environments; water, PBS, and 0.01 M NaOH; which remarkably affected the profile of the controlled release of this model drug. In addition to affecting the mechanical properties, the amount of citric acid incorporated within a hydrogel network during synthesis was also of great importance to the rate of DICL release. Therefore, due to their high biocompatibility, agarose hydrogels can be regarded as safe and potential platforms for controlled drug release in biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels)
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Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>(<b>a</b>) Example photos of hydrated and dehydrated hydrogels, and (<b>b</b>) the dehydration profiles of the studied hydrogels (the inset box shows the weight losses on a linear scale).</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>The FTIR spectra of the obtained hydrogels, along with the spectra of the initial compounds used to synthesize hydrogels: agarose and citric acid (<b>left</b> panel), and the spectra of mixed agarose and citric acid in proportions corresponding to those in the final hydrogels AG-1–AH-4 (<b>right</b> panel).</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>SEM microphotographs of the dehydrated hydrogels: (<b>a</b>) AG-0, (<b>b</b>) AG-1, (<b>c</b>) AG-2, (<b>d</b>) AG-3, (<b>e</b>) AG-4. The scale bar visible in the bottom right corner of each image is 1 μm.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>(<b>a</b>) The storage and loss moduli of the studied hydrogels as a function of the shear strain amplitude. (<b>b</b>) The storage and loss moduli of the studied hydrogels as a function of the frequency.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Cumulative release profiles of the studied hydrogels in various media: (<b>a</b>) water (pH = 5.5), (<b>b</b>) 0.01 M NaOH (pH = 12.0), and (<b>c</b>,<b>d</b>) PBS (pH = 7.2).</p> Full article ">

Review

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35 pages, 8715 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Progress of Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels: Synthesis, Characteristics, and Wide-Ranging Applications
by Iman Gholamali, Trung Thang Vu, Sung-Han Jo, Sang-Hyug Park and Kwon Taek Lim
Materials 2024, 17(10), 2439; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17102439 - 18 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3595
Abstract
This comprehensive review delves into the world of hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels, exploring their creation, characteristics, research methodologies, and uses. HA hydrogels stand out among natural polysaccharides due to their distinct features. Their exceptional biocompatibility makes them a top choice for diverse biomedical [...] Read more.
This comprehensive review delves into the world of hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels, exploring their creation, characteristics, research methodologies, and uses. HA hydrogels stand out among natural polysaccharides due to their distinct features. Their exceptional biocompatibility makes them a top choice for diverse biomedical purposes, with a great ability to coexist harmoniously with living cells and tissues. Furthermore, their biodegradability permits their gradual breakdown by bodily enzymes, enabling the creation of temporary frameworks for tissue engineering endeavors. Additionally, since HA is a vital component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in numerous tissues, HA hydrogels can replicate the ECM’s structure and functions. This mimicry is pivotal in tissue engineering applications by providing an ideal setting for cellular growth and maturation. Various cross-linking techniques like chemical, physical, enzymatic, and hybrid methods impact the mechanical strength, swelling capacity, and degradation speed of the hydrogels. Assessment tools such as rheological analysis, electron microscopy, spectroscopy, swelling tests, and degradation studies are employed to examine their attributes. HA-based hydrogels feature prominently in tissue engineering, drug distribution, wound recovery, ophthalmology, and cartilage mending. Crafting HA hydrogels enables the production of biomaterials with sought-after qualities, offering avenues for advancements in the realm of biomedicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels)
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Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>Exploring the reaction mechanism between HA and EDC.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Schematic reaction between HA and BIED and a representative image of BIED-cross-linked HA gels with MW of 1.2 MDa. (<b>a</b>) Cross-linked HA demonstrates the formation of urethane bonds between the isocyanate and hydroxyl groups. (<b>b</b>) Formulation four maintains its shape. (<b>c</b>) Formulation three shows inadequate structural stability. (<b>d</b>) Representative FTIR spectra of HA and HA-BIED-cross-linked gel displaying characteristic urethane bridges. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B52-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">52</a>]. 2020, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>The hydrogel formulation was depicted through schematic representations, illustrating the swift cross-linking reaction with HA-Mal, Gel-Mal, and PEGDSH in PBS. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B27-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">27</a>]. 2021, MDPI.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Chemical structures and proposed cross-linking mechanism of Gantrez<sup>®</sup> S97 and sodium hyaluronate. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B29-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">29</a>]. 2018, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Illustrates the schematic representation of FA-conj-HA gel. The synthesis route of FA-conj-HA polymers is shown in (<b>a</b>), while the cross-linking route of FA-conj-HA gel is depicted in (<b>b</b>). In (<b>c</b>), the FA-conj-HA solution undergoes cross-linking using 4-arm-PEG2000-Mal through a D-A reaction, leading to the creation of viscoelastic hydrogels. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B31-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">31</a>]. 2024, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>The schematic illustrates the design and the impact of photo-cross-linking hydrogels on wound healing. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B66-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">66</a>]. 2022, MDPI.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>The amidation reactions of the -COOH group in chemical modifications of HA. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B36-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">36</a>]. 2024, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 8
<p>Oxidation of HA and hydrogel formation via hydrazone cross-linking.</p> Full article ">Figure 9
<p><sup>1</sup>H NMR characterization of the precursor of HA-Nb in D<sub>2</sub>O. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B83-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">83</a>]. 2022, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 10
<p><sup>13</sup>C-NMR spectra (400 MHz) of (<b>a</b>,<b>b</b>) HA–furan/TA and (<b>c</b>) HA/PEG hydrogel are solid, indicating the presence of both D-A click chemistry and enzymatic cross-linking processes. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B86-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">86</a>]. 2014, RSC.</p> Full article ">Figure 11
<p>The schematic of HA-PNIPAAm demonstrates the amide groups of PNIPAAm forming hydrogen bonds with water below the LCST (lower critical solution temperature) and forming hydrogen bonds with each other above the LCST, thereby the formation of hydrophobic microdomains and the transformation of the material into a physically cross-linked hydrogel. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B41-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">41</a>]. 2018, Wiley.</p> Full article ">Figure 12
<p>An Overview of Dynamic Covalent Bonding and their biomedical application. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B105-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">105</a>]. 2020, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 13
<p>The moduli of HA/Coumarin-25 and HA/Coumarin-100 hydrogels were measured in two ways. Firstly, their moduli were measured as a function of step time (<b>a</b>,<b>b</b>), and secondly, their moduli were measured as a function of angular frequency (<b>c</b>,<b>d</b>). Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B64-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">64</a>]. 2023, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 14
<p>The coumarin-functionalized HA hydrogels with different molar ratios (50:100, 100:100 with respect to Nb/Tz). Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B64-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">64</a>]. 2023, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 15
<p>SEM images of HA hydrogel films. Cross-section image (<b>a</b>) of HA dried hydrogel film; (<b>b</b>) cross-section image of HA hydrogel film in swelling status. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B132-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">132</a>]. 2000, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 16
<p>The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of microspheres made of carboxymethyl chitosan and loaded with HA/gelatin hydrogels were analyzed. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B79-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">79</a>]. 2021, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 17
<p>TGA analysis of HA-Alg-PVA hydrogel membrane. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B139-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">139</a>]. 2023, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 18
<p>Tissue engineering strategies for regeneration can involve different approaches. In acellular methods, recipient-derived or artificial biomaterial structures without any cells are placed into the patient’s body to enhance natural regeneration processes. Cellular techniques utilize patient-specific or donor cells to populate and develop a framework before implantation. Cell therapy, on the other hand, involves administering intended cell types and biological populations directly to the patient without the use of scaffolds. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B141-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">141</a>]. 2020, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 19
<p>Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels and Their Application as Drug Delivery Systems in Cancer Treatment. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B159-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">159</a>]. 2023, MDPI.</p> Full article ">Figure 20
<p>Illustration outlining the process and roles of injectable multifunctional hydrogel. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B164-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">164</a>]. 2022, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">Figure 21
<p>(<b>a</b>) A formulation of hydrogel; (<b>b</b>) creating a bioink (hydrogel) based on HA; (<b>c</b>) illustration depicting the process of 3D bioprinting for articular cartilage engineering. Reprinted with permission from ref. [<a href="#B172-materials-17-02439" class="html-bibr">172</a>]. 2020, Elsevier.</p> Full article ">
31 pages, 3875 KiB  
Review
Hydrogels in Ophthalmology: Novel Strategies for Overcoming Therapeutic Challenges
by Kevin Y. Wu, Dania Akbar, Michel Giunta, Ananda Kalevar and Simon D. Tran
Materials 2024, 17(1), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010086 - 23 Dec 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1895
Abstract
The human eye’s intricate anatomical and physiological design necessitates tailored approaches for managing ocular diseases. Recent advancements in ophthalmology underscore the potential of hydrogels as a versatile therapeutic tool, owing to their biocompatibility, adaptability, and customizability. This review offers an exploration of hydrogel [...] Read more.
The human eye’s intricate anatomical and physiological design necessitates tailored approaches for managing ocular diseases. Recent advancements in ophthalmology underscore the potential of hydrogels as a versatile therapeutic tool, owing to their biocompatibility, adaptability, and customizability. This review offers an exploration of hydrogel applications in ophthalmology over the past five years. Emphasis is placed on their role in optimized drug delivery for the posterior segment and advancements in intraocular lens technology. Hydrogels demonstrate the capacity for targeted, controlled, and sustained drug release in the posterior segment of the eye, potentially minimizing invasive interventions and enhancing patient outcomes. Furthermore, in intraocular lens domains, hydrogels showcase potential in post-operative drug delivery, disease sensing, and improved biocompatibility. However, while their promise is immense, most hydrogel-based studies remain preclinical, necessitating rigorous clinical evaluations. Patient-specific factors, potential complications, and the current nascent stage of research should inform their clinical application. In essence, the incorporation of hydrogels into ocular therapeutics represents a seminal convergence of material science and medicine, heralding advancements in patient-centric care within ophthalmology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels)
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<p>Current state of hydrogel applications in the field of ophthalmology.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Classification of Hydrogels.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Methods of Chemical and Physical Cross-linking of Hydrogels.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Anatomy of the Posterior Segment.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Retinal Anatomy. The illustration highlights the different layers of the retina and its main cell types. (BioRender, <a href="https://app.biorender.com/" target="_blank">https://app.biorender.com/</a>, accessed on 17 July 2023.)</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Corneal Barrier.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Static and Dynamic Barriers of the Eye. The provided illustration underscores the predominant barriers within the eye, which serve dual purposes: first, to preserve its internal milieu; and second, to pose challenges for the effective delivery of administered drugs. (BioRender, <a href="https://app.biorender.com/" target="_blank">https://app.biorender.com/</a>, accessed on 15 June 2023.)</p> Full article ">
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