Mussel-Inspired Injectable Adhesive Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Bioengineering

Background:

• Marine mussels exhibit remarkable underwater adhesion, inspiring biomimetic materials.
• Injectable hydrogels offer minimally invasive delivery for biomedical applications.
• Mussel-inspired catechol groups impart unique functional properties to hydrogels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review mussel-inspired injectable adhesive hydrogels for biomedical applications.
• To summarize design strategies and integration methodologies of catechol groups.
• To discuss the benefits and challenges of these advanced hydrogels.

Main Methods:

• Review of mussel adhesion mechanisms and injectable hydrogel characteristics.
• Summary of design strategies for catechol group incorporation and hydrogel crosslinking.
• Systematic overview of recent applications in biomedical fields.

Main Results:

• Mussel-inspired hydrogels demonstrate enhanced tissue adhesiveness, self-healing, and antimicrobial/antioxidant capabilities.
• Various design strategies enable catechol group integration and tunable crosslinking.
• These hydrogels show broad potential in diverse biomedical applications.

Conclusions:

• Mussel-inspired injectable adhesive hydrogels offer significant advantages for biomedical applications.
• Further research can inspire novel designs and facilitate clinical translation.
• These materials hold promise for tissue repair, drug delivery, and beyond.