In Situ Cross-Linkable Hydrogels as a Dynamic Matrix for Tissue Regenerative Medicine.
10.1007/s13770-018-0155-5
- Author:
Kyung Min PARK
1
;
Ki Dong PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Bioengineering and Nano-Bioengineering, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Polymeric hydrogels;
In situ cross-linkable hydrogels;
Tissue engineering;
Tissue regenerative medicine
- MeSH:
Biocompatible Materials;
Cellular Microenvironment;
Extracellular Matrix;
Hydrogel*;
Hydrogels*;
Phase Transition;
Polymers;
Regeneration;
Regenerative Medicine*;
Tissue Engineering
- From:
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
2018;15(5):547-557
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Polymeric hydrogels are extensively used as promising biomaterials in a broad range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. These materials have advantages such as structural similarity to the native extracellular matrix (ECM), multi-tunable physicochemical and biological properties, and biocompatibility. METHODS: In situ forming hydrogels show a phase transition from a solution to a gel state through various physical and chemical cross-linking reactions. These advanced hydrogel materials have been widely used for tissue regenerative medicine because of the ease of encapsulating therapeutic agents, such as cells, drugs, proteins, and genes. RESULTS: With advances in biomaterials engineering, these hydrogel materials have been utilized as either artificial cellular microenvironments to create engineered tissue constructs or as bioactive acellular matrices to stimulate the native ECM for enhanced tissue regeneration and restoration. CONCLUSION: In this review, we discuss the use of in situ cross-linkable hydrogels in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. In particular, we focus on emerging technologies as a powerful therapeutic tool for tissue regenerative medicine applications.
