Boronate Ester Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications: Challenges and Opportunities.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Boronate ester (BE) hydrogels are dynamic polymer networks with tunable properties like viscoelasticity, injectability, and self-healing.
• Their sensitivity to stimuli such as pH, redox conditions, and sugars enables the design of responsive materials.
• BE hydrogels show promise for drug delivery, 3D cell culture, and biofabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of boronate ester hydrogel design for biomedical applications.
• To focus on the materials chemistry underlying BE hydrogel formation and properties.
• To address the challenge of achieving stability at physiological pH (≈7.4).

Main Methods:

• Literature review of boronate ester chemistry and hydrogel systems.
• Analysis of molecular mechanisms for BE formation and breakage.
• Overview of existing and emerging BE hydrogel systems for physiological conditions.

Main Results:

• Boronate ester chemistry provides a versatile platform for creating dynamic and stimuli-responsive hydrogels.
• Achieving stable BE hydrogel formation at physiological pH remains a significant challenge.
• Various strategies and systems are being developed to overcome stability limitations.

Conclusions:

• Boronate ester hydrogels are promising for diverse biomedical applications, including drug delivery, 3D cell culture, and bioprinting.
• Further advancements in materials chemistry are crucial for enhancing BE hydrogel stability and functionality at physiological pH.
• Addressing design relevance, limitations, and future potential is key for clinical translation.