Polymeric gels and hydrogels for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications

Abstract

Hydrogels are formed when a three‐dimensional polymeric network is loosely crosslinked. They are swollen by water but not dissolved in it. Hydrogels may display reversible sol–gel transitions, induced by changes in the environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, ionic strength, phase separation, wave length of light, crystallinity, etc. Hydrogel is described as smart or intelligent when sharp transition is induced by small change in such conditions. For the shape‐memory hydrogels, reversible change in shape may also be induced by such stimuli. The preparation and applications of the molecularly imprinted polymeric hydrogels (MIPs) are illustrated by a few examples. The use of shape sensitive hydrogels in microfluidic is mentioned. Application of hydrogels for chronobiology and chronotherapy is outlined. The conversion of hydrogels into aerogels and their respective properties is discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Novel semi-interpenetrating hydrogel networks with enhanced mechanical properties and thermoresponsive engineered drug delivery, designed as bioactive endotracheal tube biomaterials

“…Hydrogels have been successfully employed for the delivery of bioactive agents [8,9]. For example, hydrogel-coated catheters have been loaded with antimicrobial agents, their subsequent release being associated with reduced medical device related infection [1,8].…”

Primjena polimera u farmaceutskoj industriji

“…Dodatno, hidrogelovi s obzirom na svoju konzistentnost nalikuju prirodnom tkivu čovjeka više od bilo kojih drugih sintetičkih biomaterijala zbog čega su pronašli veliku primjenu i u biomedicinskom području kod dizajniranja i izrade umjetnog tkiva, umjetne kože, obloga za umjetno srce, membrana za biosenzore, kontaktne leće itd. [48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] Fizikalno umrežavanje hidrogelova, ovisno o vrsti polimera, može biti potaknuto promjenom pH, temperature, ionske jakosti te raznim drugim fizikalnim interakcijama kao što su hidrofobne interakcije, vodikove veze, formiranje stereokompleksa itd. Kemijsko umrežavanje obuhvaća kovalentno povezivanje polimernih lanaca.…”

In situ silver nanoparticle formation embedded into a photopolymerized hydrogel with biocide properties

“…The photopolymerization process has a unique reaction behavior that includes unequal functional group reactivity, self-acceleration and self-deceleration induced by diffusion-controlled propagation and termination, among others [30,31]. Resulting hydrogels in which HEMA was used as monomer precursor show a high surface porosity and swelling degree compared to other ones, being a good candidate for drug delivery and others applications [32][33][34].…”