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Updated: May 24, 2026

Preparation of Chitosan-based Injectable Hydrogels and Its Application in 3D Cell Culture

Preparation of Chitosan-based Injectable Hydrogels and Its Application in 3D Cell Culture

Published on: September 29, 2017

Rapid self-healing hydrogels.

Ameya Phadke¹, Chao Zhang, Bedri Arman

¹Department of Bioengineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|March 7, 2012

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Researchers developed permanently cross-linked hydrogels that autonomously heal in water. This breakthrough utilizes specially designed side chains to enable rapid, reversible self-healing, opening doors for advanced material applications.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry

Background:

Developing self-healing synthetic materials is crucial for diverse applications.
Achieving self-healing in permanently cross-linked hydrogels is challenging due to water presence and irreversible cross-links.

Purpose of the Study:

To engineer permanently cross-linked hydrogels capable of autonomous self-healing in aqueous environments.
To investigate the mechanism of self-healing mediated by flexible-pendant side chains.

Main Methods:

Incorporation of flexible-pendant side chains with balanced hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties into the hydrogel network.
Characterization of self-healing kinetics, reversibility, and mechanical properties under varying pH conditions.

Main Results:

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Printing Thermoresponsive Reverse Molds for the Creation of Patterned Two-component Hydrogels for 3D Cell Culture

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Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Preparation of Chitosan-based Injectable Hydrogels and Its Application in 3D Cell Culture

Preparation of Chitosan-based Injectable Hydrogels and Its Application in 3D Cell Culture

Published on: September 29, 2017

Printing Thermoresponsive Reverse Molds for the Creation of Patterned Two-component Hydrogels for 3D Cell Culture

Printing Thermoresponsive Reverse Molds for the Creation of Patterned Two-component Hydrogels for 3D Cell Culture

Published on: July 10, 2013

Demonstrated rapid (seconds) and reversible self-healing of permanently cross-linked hydrogels in water.
Showcased pH-controlled switching of the healing process.
Confirmed sustained mechanical properties and healing efficiency over multiple healing-separation cycles.

Conclusions:

Permanently cross-linked hydrogels can be engineered for autonomous self-healing in aqueous conditions by mediating secondary interactions.
The developed hydrogels offer tunable, repeatable self-healing capabilities with potential for broad applications.