Hydrogels in Medicine

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2022) | Viewed by 16203

Special Issue Editors

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Plasmon Nanotechnologies Unit, 16163 Genova, Italy
Interests: biosensors; ocular sensors; optoelectronics; nanotechnology; tissue engineering
Department of Health Technology, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU), 2800, Lyngby, Denmark
Interests: biomaterials; hydrogels, tissue engineering; 3D printing
College of Engineering and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, 127788 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Interests: healthcare devices; smart contact lenses; fiber optic probes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Hydrogels have gained attention in the medical field due to their intrinsic advantages over conventional materials and methods. Their low-cost nature, chemical variety, biological compatibility, processing methods, high water content, and stimuli-responsive behavior make them an interesting alternative to current medical technologies for a broad range of applications.

Combining hydrogels with thin films and micro-manufacturing allows us to develop materials with different electrical, mechanical, and optical properties. Their three-dimensional (3D) matrix allows for the production of biomimetic materials and high-stability sensing systems with surface-immobilized enzymes, aptamers, and a variety of other biological and non-biological molecules.  

The use of hydrogels has recently been demonstrated in the development of implantable devices, in vitro diagnostic platforms, flexible bioelectronics, and enhanced sensing of biochemicals, proteins, and genes. Hydrogels have also been employed as one of the most common scaffolds in tissue engineering and used in organ-on-chip platforms.

This Special Issue, entitled Hydrogels in Medicine, covers the methods and technologies involved in the development of such matrices, from the chemistry to their applications; surface functionalization, such as thin films and composite materials; hydrogel nano-patterning; biocompatibility studies with cells and tissues; flexible bioelectronics; and large-area medical devices. Applications include, but are not limited to, in vitro diagnostics, tissue engineering, holographic sensors, flexible/wearable/implantable devices, and organ-on-chip systems.

We cordially invite you to submit your original research article or a review paper to this Special Issue by the 20th of February 2022.

Best regards,
Dr. Rosalia Moreddu
Dr. Nayere Taebnia
Dr. Mohamed Elsherif
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hydrogels
  • biosensors
  • analytical chemistry
  • medical devices
  • protein immobilization
  • flexible sensors
  • biocompatibility
  • thin films
  • polymer electronics
  • holography
  • surface functionalization
  • nanostructures
  • biomimetics
  • tissue engineering
  • organ-on-chip platforms

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 48814 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels for Cutaneous Wound Healing
by Hongyan Xue, Meng Sun, Xiaoliang Zhao, Yonggang Wang, Jinxin Yan and Weijie Zhang
Polymers 2022, 14(9), 1716; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14091716 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2382
Abstract
Natural hydrogels are growing in interest as a priority for wound healing. Plant polysaccharides have a variety of biological pharmacological activities, and chitosan hydrogels have proven strong antimicrobial effects, but hydrogels prepared with polysaccharides alone have certain deficiencies. Polysaccharides from flowers of Lonicera [...] Read more.
Natural hydrogels are growing in interest as a priority for wound healing. Plant polysaccharides have a variety of biological pharmacological activities, and chitosan hydrogels have proven strong antimicrobial effects, but hydrogels prepared with polysaccharides alone have certain deficiencies. Polysaccharides from flowers of Lonicera japonica Thunb. (LP) and the aerial parts of Mentha canadensis L. (MP) were extracted and oxidized by sodium periodate (NaIO4) and then cross-linked with oxidized-carboxymethylated chitosan (O-CCS) to develop oxidized plant- polysaccharides-chitosan hydrogels (OPHs). SEM observation showed that OPHs had porous interior structures with interconnecting pores. The OPHs showed good swelling, water-retention ability, blood coagulation, cytocompatibility properties, and low cytotoxicity (classed as grade 1 according to United States Pharmacopoeia), which met the requirements for wound dressings. Then the cutaneous wound-healing effect was evaluated in BALB/C mice model, after 7 days treatment, the wound-closure rate of OPHs groups were all greater than 50%, and after 14 days, all were greater than 90%, while the value of the control group was only 72.6%. Of them, OPH-2 and OPH-3 were more favorable to the wound-healing process, as the promotion was more significant. The plant polysaccharides and CS-based hydrogel should be a candidate for cutaneous wound dressings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels in Medicine)
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19 pages, 5921 KiB  
Article
3D-Printed Coaxial Hydrogel Patches with Mussel-Inspired Elements for Prolonged Release of Gemcitabine
by Sepehr Talebian, In Kyong Shim, Javad Foroughi, Gorka Orive, Kara L. Vine, Song Cheol Kim and Gordon G. Wallace
Polymers 2021, 13(24), 4367; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13244367 - 13 Dec 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4015
Abstract
With the aim of fabricating drug-loaded implantable patches, a 3D printing technique was employed to produce novel coaxial hydrogel patches. The core-section of these patches contained a dopamine-modified methacrylated alginate hydrogel loaded with a chemotherapeutic drug (Gemcitabine), while their shell section was solely [...] Read more.
With the aim of fabricating drug-loaded implantable patches, a 3D printing technique was employed to produce novel coaxial hydrogel patches. The core-section of these patches contained a dopamine-modified methacrylated alginate hydrogel loaded with a chemotherapeutic drug (Gemcitabine), while their shell section was solely comprised of a methacrylated alginate hydrogel. Subsequently, these patches were further modified with CaCO3 cross linker and a polylactic acid (PLA) coating to facilitate prolonged release of the drug. Consequently, the results showed that addition of CaCO3 to the formula enhanced the mechanical properties of the patches and significantly reduced their swelling ratio as compared to that for patches without CaCO3. Furthermore, addition of PLA coating to CaCO3-containing patches has further reduced their swelling ratio, which then significantly slowed down the release of Gemcitabine, to a point where 4-layered patches could release the drug over a period of 7 days in vitro. Remarkably, it was shown that 3-layered and 4-layered Gemcitabine loaded patches were successful in inhibiting pancreatic cancer cell growth for a period of 14 days when tested in vitro. Lastly, in vivo experiments showed that gemcitabine-loaded 4-layered patches were capable of reducing the tumor growth rate and caused no severe toxicity when tested in mice. Altogether, 3D printed hydrogel patches might be used as biocompatible implants for local delivery of drugs to diseased site, to either shrink the tumor or to prevent the tumor recurrence after resection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels in Medicine)
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Review

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36 pages, 3871 KiB  
Review
Smart 3D Printed Hydrogel Skin Wound Bandages: A Review
by Filmon Tsegay, Mohamed Elsherif and Haider Butt
Polymers 2022, 14(5), 1012; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14051012 - 03 Mar 2022
Cited by 52 | Viewed by 11591
Abstract
Wounds are a major health concern affecting the lives of millions of people. Some wounds may pass a threshold diameter to become unrecoverable by themselves. These wounds become chronic and may even lead to mortality. Recently, 3D printing technology, in association with biocompatible [...] Read more.
Wounds are a major health concern affecting the lives of millions of people. Some wounds may pass a threshold diameter to become unrecoverable by themselves. These wounds become chronic and may even lead to mortality. Recently, 3D printing technology, in association with biocompatible hydrogels, has emerged as a promising platform for developing smart wound dressings, overcoming several challenges. 3D printed wound dressings can be loaded with a variety of items, such as antibiotics, antibacterial nanoparticles, and other drugs that can accelerate wound healing rate. 3D printing is computerized, allowing each level of the printed part to be fully controlled in situ to produce the dressings desired. In this review, recent developments in hydrogel-based wound dressings made using 3D printing are covered. The most common biosensors integrated with 3D printed hydrogels for wound dressing applications are comprehensively discussed. Fundamental challenges for 3D printing and future prospects are highlighted. Additionally, some related nanomaterial-based hydrogels are recommended for future consideration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels in Medicine)
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