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Fragmenting Bulk Hydrogels and Processing into Granular Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
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Practical Guide to the Design of Granular Hydrogels for Customizing Complex Cellular Microenvironments
Shuhan Feng1, Kaiyang Chen1, Shiqi Wang1,2
1Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Granular hydrogels, assembled from microgels, offer versatile platforms for biomimetic cell culture. Understanding intra- and inter-microgel factors is key to tailoring their properties for tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Hydrogel Engineering
Background:
- Granular hydrogels are emerging microporous scaffolds assembled from microgels.
- They mimic complex natural tissue environments due to their flexibility and diversity.
- These scaffolds are promising for advanced cell culture and delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the design principles of granular hydrogels.
- To highlight critical factors influencing their physicochemical properties for biomimetic applications.
- To discuss their impact on cellular behavior and future development.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive analysis of intra-microgel (intrinsic) and inter-microgel (interaction) factors.
- Detailed discussion of granular hydrogel properties: porosity, mechanics, degradability, heterogeneity, drug loading, and cell incorporation.
- Review of current challenges and opportunities in granular hydrogel design.
Main Results:
- Intra- and inter-microgel factors critically determine granular hydrogel properties.
- These properties significantly influence cellular behavior and biomimicry.
- Tailoring these factors allows for precise control over the cellular microenvironment.
Conclusions:
- Granular hydrogels offer tunable platforms for creating biomimetic cellular microenvironments.
- Understanding and controlling microgel assembly is crucial for advanced tissue engineering.
- Further research into design strategies will unlock new therapeutic and regenerative medicine applications.
