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Published on: July 18, 2018
Functional Hydrogel Coatings for Medical Devices: Recent Developments and Biomedical Applications
Shuangyang Li1, Ziwei Guo1, Anjie Dong1,2,3
1Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Functional hydrogel coatings enhance medical devices by improving biocompatibility and reducing complications. This review offers a device-centered framework for designing advanced hydrogel coatings for better clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Medical Device Engineering
Background:
- Surface modification of medical devices is crucial for overcoming biological complications.
- Functional hydrogel coatings offer elasticity, lubricity, biocompatibility, and anti-biofouling properties.
- Existing reviews lack a device-oriented framework for hydrogel coating design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a medical device-oriented framework for functional hydrogel coatings.
- To link coating function, fabrication, substrate compatibility, device geometry, and clinical application.
- To guide the design of next-generation hydrogel coatings for improved clinical translation.
Main Methods:
- Systematic summary of hydrogel coating functions and their underlying mechanisms.
- Discussion of representative fabrication strategies and their substrate applicability.
- Analysis of application-specific design principles for various medical device categories.
Main Results:
- Hydrogel coatings provide essential properties like elasticity and biocompatibility.
- Fabrication strategies vary in suitability for different substrate materials.
- Device geometry and functional requirements influence coating design and failure modes.
Conclusions:
- A device-centered approach is vital for effective hydrogel coating design.
- Understanding interfacial effects and translational constraints is key.
- This framework facilitates the development of advanced hydrogel coatings for clinical use.