Stimuli-Responsive Polysaccharide-Based Smart Hydrogels and Their Emerging Applications

Abstract

Hydrogels are a soft material that undergoes cross-linking between polymers to form a hydrophilic three-dimensional network. In fact, similarity to body tissue, soft consistency, biocompatibility, and elasticity, impart a protagonic role of hydrogel to be applied as a biomaterial. In response to external cues, stimuli-responsive hydrogels are particularly impactful, enabling remarkable levels of control over material properties. They can endure changes in swelling behavior, permeability, network structure, and mechanical strength. Nevertheless, such changes induce single-cycle or reversible transitions, so hydrogels can regain their initial state once the trigger is removed. Recently, polysaccharide-based hydrogels with stimuli-responsive properties resulted in developing biomimetic structures for a widespread biotechnological application owing to their excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility, nonimmunogenicity, functional properties, ease of gelation, and derivatization. This review will initially highlight recent advances in cross-linking methods and chemistry for preparing stimuli-responsive hydrogels. Subsequently, state-of-the-art techniques to understand the structural, chemical, and rheological behavior of polysaccharide-based stimuli-responsive hydrogel will be discussed. Additionally, the responsiveness of polysaccharide hydrogel toward diverse stimuli such as redox, temperature, light, pH, magnetism, electricity, etc., with a broad spectrum of applications will be described in detail. This review also attempts to address the lacunae of existing stimuli-responsive hydrogel and their future perspectives.

Recent Advances in the Additive Manufacturing of Stimuli‐Responsive Soft Polymers

“…[134][135][136][137][138][139][140] Hydrogels are macromolecular structures, in which polymer molecules are bonded in a hydrophilic network. [141][142][143][144] These materials can absorb a large amount of water, due to void imperfections in their structures (such as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups). [145][146][147][148] Conventional hydrogels offer limited swelling response associated with water dependency.…”

Polysaccharides based biopolymers for biomedical applications: A review

“…PNIPAAm can proceed with a reversible transition of phase due to temperature changes, which can be exploited to release drugs in a controlled manner. Overall, stimuli‐responsive biopolymeric drug delivery matrices offer a promising avenue for targeted drug delivery with improved efficacy and reduced side effects 134–136 …”

“…F I G U R E 1 5 Stimuli-responsive biopolymeric-based smart drug delivery systems (Reproduced from Reference 133 with the permission from Elsevier).be exploited to release drugs in a controlled manner. Overall, stimuliresponsive biopolymeric drug delivery matrices offer a promising avenue for targeted drug delivery with improved efficacy and reduced side effects [134][135][136]. 8.1.4 | Arabinoxylan-based films as potential carriers in drug delivery system AX materials become innovative potential carriers in drug delivery systems for delivering therapeutic agents, such as genes, biological drugs, and biomolecules.…”

A Remarkable Impact of pH on the Thermo-Responsive Properties of Alginate-Based Composite Hydrogels Incorporating P2VP-PEO Micellar Nanoparticles

“…Hydrogels are three-dimensional (3D) network structures formed through chemical or physical cross-links or chain entanglements. Stimuli-responsive hydrogels, also known as "smart" hydrogels, are materials that respond to various stimuli (pH, temperature, light, ionic strength, magnetic, redox, electric, and chemical response), exhibiting reversible changes in their chemical and physical state [1][2][3][4]. Due to their soft texture, elasticity, biocompatibility, high swelling capability, and similarity to body tissues, hydrogels are ideal candidates for use as biomaterials in a variety of applications [5,6] like delivery of drugs and other bioactive ingredients [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16], 3D printing [17][18][19][20], tissue engineering, repair and regeneration [21][22][23][24], or shear-thinning injectable matrices for bioapplications [25,26].…”