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Designing Injectable, Covalently Cross‐Linked Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
Author(s) -
Patenaude Mathew,
Smeets Niels M. B.,
Hoare Todd
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201300818
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , context (archaeology) , covalent bond , nanotechnology , variety (cybernetics) , computer science , materials science , chemistry , polymer chemistry , artificial intelligence , biology , organic chemistry , paleontology
Hydrogels that can form spontaneously via covalent bond formation upon injection in vivo have recently attracted significant attention for their potential to address a variety of biomedical challenges. This review discusses the design rules for the effective engineering of such materials, and the major chemistries used to form injectable, in situ gelling hydrogels in the context of these design guidelines are outlined (with examples). Directions for future research in the area are addressed, noting the outstanding challenges associated with the use of this class of hydrogels in vivo.