Hydrogels in a historical perspective: from simple networks to smart materials
Sytze J Buwalda1, Kristel W M Boere1, Pieter J Dijkstra2
1Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Summary
Hydrogels have advanced from simple networks to smart biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Overcoming toxicity and physiological limitations has enabled their use in minimally invasive therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Hydrogels are crucial functional biomaterials with applications in medicine.
- Early limitations included crosslinking agent toxicity and poor physiological compatibility.
- Advances in polymer chemistry and biology have led to improved hydrogel design.
