Translational Applications of Hydrogels

Abstract

Advances in hydrogel technology have unlocked unique and valuable capabilities that are being applied to a diverse set of translational applications. Hydrogels perform functions relevant to a range of biomedical purposesthey can deliver drugs or cells, regenerate hard and soft tissues, adhere to wet tissues, prevent bleeding, provide contrast during imaging, protect tissues or organs during radiotherapy, and improve the biocompatibility of medical implants. These capabilities make hydrogels useful for many distinct and pressing diseases and medical conditions and even for less conventional areas such as environmental engineering. In this review, we cover the major capabilities of hydrogels, with a focus on the novel benefits of injectable hydrogels, and how they relate to translational applications in medicine and the environment. We pay close attention to how the development of contemporary hydrogels requires extensive interdisciplinary collaboration to accomplish highly specific and complex biological tasks that range from cancer immunotherapy to tissue engineering to vaccination. We complement our discussion of preclinical and clinical development of hydrogels with mechanical design considerations needed for scaling injectable hydrogel technologies for clinical application. We anticipate that readers will gain a more complete picture of the expansive possibilities for hydrogels to make practical and impactful differences across numerous fields and biomedical applications.

PNP Hydrogel Prevents Formation of Symblephara in Mice After Ocular Alkali Injury

“…PNP hydrogels of different formulations exhibit tunable shear-thinning, self-healing, yield-stress, and viscoelastic properties that enable them to create a lubricious barrier between organs and tissues that reduces the incidence and severity of adhesions. 22 – 24 We have previously demonstrated that hydrogels that are too soft and weak flow too easily when perturbed in the body, leaving target tissues too quickly while adhesions are still developing. Hydrogels that are too stiff are easily dislodged from target tissues as the yield stress of such materials exceeds their adhesion strength to the tissue.…”

Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels for Microencapsulation of Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine

“…In addition to the implantable form, an injectable hydrogel has shown impressive therapeutic effects as a carrier for cancer vaccine and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies ( Li et al, 2020 ). A recent review covers this area in depth from the hydrogel materials, therapeutic strategies as well as clinical perspectives ( Correa et al, 2021 ).…”

Applying Synthetic Biology with Rational Design to Nature’s Greatest Challenges: Bioengineering Immunotherapeutics for the Treatment of Glioblastoma

“…Polymeric structures importantly allow for local and/or sustained release of active therapeutics and have been long a subject of investigation in gliomas, particularly as implants in the post-resection cavity [45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]. BCNU wafers were approved for local delivery of carmustine to the glioma resection cavity in 1996, leading the pack on implantable local therapeutics for brain tumors [55,56].…”