Medikuntza birsortzailerako hidrogelak

Abstract

Hydrogels are polymeric networks formed by crosslinked monomers that depending on their hydrophilicity are capable of retaining up to 99% of water. This retention capacity makes them adequate solutions for a diverse range of translational applications. Hydrogels can be used for different medical purposes: drug or cell delivery, tissue regeneration, improved reproduction of tissue microenvironments through 3D culture models, adhesion to moist tissues, haemorrhage prevention, tissue protection during radiotherapy or improved biocompatibility of implants, among others. The aforementioned capabilities render hydrogels useful for diseases and medical conditions of varying severity, as well as for less common areas such as environmental engineering. This article describes the main physicochemical characteristics and crosslinking techniques that can be used in the synthesis of hydrogel solutions. An understanding of these properties and their controllability will be critical in determining their specific biomedical applications.