Biopolymer-based hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications: a review

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Hydrogels are cross-linked polymer networks capable of absorbing significant water volumes.
• Hydrogels can be categorized by preparation, charge, and mechanical/structural properties.
• Natural polymers offer unique advantages for hydrogel development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of natural polymer-based hydrogels.
• To detail hydrogel properties, tuning strategies, and preparation methods.
• To explore applications of these hydrogels in tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on natural polymer hydrogels.
• Discussion of hydrogel characterization and property modulation.
• Analysis of thermosensitive biopolymers (UCST/LCST) and cryogels.

Main Results:

• Natural polymer hydrogels exhibit diverse properties tunable via specific strategies.
• Thermosensitive biopolymers and cryogels represent key systems for advanced applications.
• Various preparation techniques yield hydrogels suitable for tissue engineering.

Conclusions:

• Natural polymer hydrogels are versatile biomaterials for tissue engineering.
• Understanding hydrogel properties and preparation is crucial for successful application.
• Further research into thermosensitive systems and cryogels holds significant promise.