Advances in biomedical applications of self-healing hydrogels

Hassan Rammal, Amin Ghavaminejad, Ahmet Erdem, Rene Mbeleck, Mohammad Nematollahi, Sibel Emir Diltemiz, Halima Alem, Mohammad Ali Darabi, Yavuz Nuri Ertas, Edward J. Caterson, Nureddin Ashammakhi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hydrogels are important biomaterials that have several applications in drug and cell delivery, tissue engineering, three-dimensional (3D) printing and more recently, in sensing and actuating applications. With the advent of self-healing hydrogels, it is becoming possible to have smarter materials with sustainable mechanical properties under stress and also added functionalities. The mechanisms responsible for the self-healing behavior of these materials are related to their internal structure and processes triggered by damage they may sustain. These mechanisms rely on either chemical bonding or physical interactions of the structural components of hydrogels, or on both. Many self-healing hydrogels have been developed and tested in vitro and in animals. However, there are still challenges, especially with healing characteristics that need to be addressed and investigated in animal experiments before their clinical applications can be initiated, for which a multidisciplinary approach is required. In the current paper, various biomedical applications of self-healing hydrogels are discussed in detail, highlighting current challenges and future prospects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4368-4400
Number of pages33
JournalMaterials Chemistry Frontiers
Volume5
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 21 2021

Funding

The authors acknowledge funding from National Institutes of Health (1UG3TR003148-01 and 5RC2DK118640) and the American Heart Association (18TPA34230036, 442611-NU-80922), Y. N. E. acknowledges funding support from 2232 International Fellowship for Outstanding Researchers Program of TuBITAK (Project No: 118C346). Hassan Rammal is a Project Manager in the biocompatibility of medical devices at EFOR Health- care (France) and a former Research Assistant and lecturer in Cell Biology (ERRMECe laboratory) at CY Cergy Paris University (France). He was previously a Research Assistant Professor of Cell and Tissue Engineering (BIOS laboratory) and in Pharmacology (BioSpecT laboratory) at the University of Reims Champagne- Ardenne (France). He has extensive research experience in stem cells and biomaterials and their potential use for various biomedical applications. He participated in the supervision of several projects funded by various federal funding agencies in France.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Materials Chemistry

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