[The research advances of three dimensional porous cryogel for tissue engineering]

Cryogels are a type of hydrogel material which are fabricated by cryopolymerization at subzero temperature. Due to their unique macroporous structure, shape memory properties and injectability, cryogels have gained significant interest in the fields of tissue engineering for encouraging the repair and regeneration of injured tissues. In this review, the basic concepts relevant to cryogels are introduced, and then the fabrication principle, the process parameters and the unique properties of cryogel are discussed. Next, the latest advances of cryogels as three-dimensional scaffold for various tissue engineering applications are given. Finally, this review summarizes the current limitations of cryogels, and strategies to further improve their properties for tissue engineering. The purpose of this article is to provide a reference guide for the researchers in related fields.