Multi-Functional Macromers for Hydrogel Design in Biomedical Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

Contemporary biomaterials are expected to provide tailored mechanical, biological and structural cues to encapsulated or invading cells in regenerative applications. In addition, the degradative properties of the material also have to be adjustable to the desired application. Oligo- or polymeric building blocks that can be further cross-linked into hydrogel networks, here addressed as macromers, appear as the prime option to assemble gels with the necessary degrees of freedom in the adjustment of the mentioned key parameters. Recent developments in the design of multi-functional macromers with two or more chemically different types of functionalities are summarized and discussed in this review illustrating recent trends in the development of advanced hydrogel building blocks for regenerative applications.

Supermacroporous Composite Cryogels in Biomedical Applications

“…The mechanical durability can also be assessed through ultimate compression, as well as the application of multiple loads over an extended period of time. All these advantages mean that composite cryogels can advance the technology and expand tissue engineering research in biomedical applications [62,63,64].…”

Optical clearing of skin enhanced with hyaluronic acid for increased contrast of optoacoustic imaging

“…34 HA can be obtained by self-assembling of amphiphilic graft copolymers with different polymer molecules, such as polylactic acid, poly-lactide-coglycolic acid chains of PEG and PPG, and others. [69][70][71] The amphiphilic properties of HA are base for both hydrophilic and lipophilic pathways of penetration into skin. The amphiphilic HA derivatives dissolved in water form self-assemblies in which the near-infrared dyes were tightly packed and arranged to form dimers or H-aggregates.…”

Uptake and Release of Species from Carbohydrate Containing Organogels and Hydrogels

“…]. Gels are the subject of a multitude of review articles, and a comprehensive review of the chemistry, engineering and physics of such materials is outside the scope of this communication, and the interested reader is directed towards a selection of insightful reviews [14][15][16][17][18]. Polysaccharides of natural and synthetic origins are a common component of gels used for biomedical applications because they tend to be cheap and their properties are easily tuned; moreover, they tend to be relatively non-immunogenic which is important for biomedical applications [19][20][21][22][23].…”

“…Gels can encapsulate and/or release species, potentially in response to externally applied stimuli [8], which offers opportunities for application as drug/fragrance delivery systems [9], hand sanitizers [10], and recovery/separation of crude oil [11][12][13]. Gels are the subject of a multitude of review articles, and a comprehensive review of the chemistry, engineering and physics of such materials is outside the scope of this communication, and the interested reader is directed towards a selection of insightful reviews [14][15][16][17][18].…”