Elastomer–Hydrogel Systems: From Bio-Inspired Interfaces to Medical Applications

Abstract

Novel advanced biomaterials have recently gained great attention, especially in minimally invasive surgical techniques. By applying sophisticated design and engineering methods, various elastomer–hydrogel systems (EHS) with outstanding performance have been developed in the last decades. These systems composed of elastomers and hydrogels are very attractive due to their high biocompatibility, injectability, controlled porosity and often antimicrobial properties. Moreover, their elastomeric properties and bioadhesiveness are making them suitable for soft tissue engineering. Herein, we present the advances in the current state-of-the-art design principles and strategies for strong interface formation inspired by nature (bio-inspiration), the diverse properties and applications of elastomer–hydrogel systems in different medical fields, in particular, in tissue engineering. The functionalities of these systems, including adhesive properties, injectability, antimicrobial properties and degradability, applicable to tissue engineering will be discussed in a context of future efforts towards the development of advanced biomaterials.

Ductile adhesive elastomers with force-triggered ultra-high adhesion strength

“…77 The random copolymer with the feed ratio of MMA of 35 mol% was selected due to its suitable glass transition temperature (T g ), which optimized the adhesion and self-healability; the BA to 2-EHA feed ratio was 2 : 1 by weight. The chemical structure of the synthesized matrix polymer was confirmed by 1 H NMR (Fig. 3A) and FT-IR spectra (ESI, † Fig.…”

“…They play a vital role in forthcoming advanced technologies, including but not limited to flexible displays, wearable devices, soft robotics, invasive surgery, building construction, solid-state batteries, and artificial human skin. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Chemical or physical crosslinking of natural rubber, polyurethane, polybutadiene, neoprene, co-polyester, or siliconebased polymers, allow ductile elastomers to possess properties like good extensibility, decent elastic modulus, remarkable recoverability (low mechanical loss), and excellent chemical resistance. [10][11][12][13][14][15] Aside from these fundamental properties, advanced ductile elastomers can have other special features such as self-healing, chemical stability, dielectric response, thermal or magnetic sensitivity, and high optical transparency.…”

Fabrication and in vitro evaluation of photo cross-linkable silk fibroin–epsilon-poly-L-lysine hydrogel for wound repair

“…All the hydrogels investigated in this study exhibited elastomeric behavior and displayed viscous properties similar to those of skin tissues, with the storage modulus (G ′ ) being higher than the loss modulus (G ′′ ) [85]. Elastomeric hydrogels provide mechanical reinforcement to the wound site, effectively resisting deformation and external forces, thereby establishing a protective shield [87,88]. There was no significant difference in G ′ of any hydrogel samples when both strain and angular frequency increased, which indicates relatively stable cross-linking and homogeneity in the SF-GMA(L)-EPL, SF-GMA(M)-EPL and SF-GMA(H)-EPL hydrogels.…”

Degradable biomedical elastomers: paving the future of tissue repair and regenerative medicine

“…30 The rate at which degradation occurs is affected by various aspects such as chemical composition, structural characteristics, the nature and density of cross-linking bonds, molecular weight, and porosity. 31 Additionally, external environmental conditions, encompassing temperature, moisture, pH, and the presence or absence of enzymes, play a significant role in governing the degradation process. 32 Matching the degradation rate with tissue repair kinetics is imperative to prevent suboptimal repair outcomes arising from overly rapid or sluggish degradation.…”