Dynamic hydrogels for biofabrication: A review

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Reversibly crosslinked dynamic hydrogels exhibit unique time-dependent properties like self-healing and shear-thinning.
• These properties make them suitable for injectable carriers and 3D printable bioinks in biomedical applications.
• Matrix dynamics within hydrogels can act as physical cues to stimulate cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the critical biophysical properties of dynamic hydrogels.
• To explore cellular processes and mechanisms triggered by hydrogel dynamics, especially in 3D cultures.
• To present an overview of advanced biofabrication techniques, including 3D bioprinting, for dynamic hydrogels.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of dynamic hydrogel properties and applications.
• Analysis of cellular responses to hydrogel matrix dynamics.
• Survey of 3D bioprinting and biofabrication strategies for tissue engineering.

Main Results:

• Dynamic hydrogels possess tunable physical properties that influence cell behavior.
• Hydrogel dynamics are shown to regulate key cellular processes relevant to tissue regeneration.
• 3D bioprinting offers a scalable approach for fabricating tissue constructs using dynamic hydrogels.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic hydrogels are promising for tissue engineering and biofabrication due to their ability to regulate cellular processes.
• Leveraging matrix dynamics is key to expanding their applications in creating functional tissue and organ models.
• Further research is needed to address challenges and opportunities in the field of dynamic hydrogel biofabrication.