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Top Applications of Hydrogels in Biomedical Field
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Top Applications of Hydrogels in Biomedical Field
Hydrogels are systems with three-dimensional spatial network structures using water as the dispersing medium, which are soft in nature, can maintain a certain shape and have strong water absorption capacity (water content can be as high as 99%). In addition, hydrogels also have good biocompatibility, biodegradability, etc. They are widely used in biomedical fields, such as drug release, medical dressing, gum tissue regeneration, bone repair, etc., which are one of the most promising medical materials in the future.Get more news about factory direct sale medical hydrogel manufacturers,you can vist our website!
The term hydrogel dates back to 1894 and was first used to describe a colloid of some inorganic salts. The world's first mature hydrogel product, Ivalon (polyvinyl alcohol), was introduced in 1949, while the market for hydrogels was brought to prosperity with the introduction of PHEMA (polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate) in 1960. Looking back on the history of hydrogels, there are three broad generations.
First Generation Hydrogels
(i) The first group is polymers of alkene monomers subjected to radical-induced chain addition reactions, such as polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA), which are still important biomaterials despite having been invented more than 70 years ago.
(ii) The second group is covalently cross-linked hydrophilic polymers, mainly represented by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), which are mainly used in tissue engineering.
Properties Analysis of Hydrogel for Biomedical Applications
1、Biocompatibility
Biocompatibility is the concept that the interaction between biological materials and the human body generates various complex reactions, and the research on biocompatibility of hydrogels started in the 1960s. The research scholars confirmed the good biocompatibility of hydrogels by injecting them into the experimental body and using them to treat bone and joint injuries without inflammatory reactions.2、Biodegradability
Biodegradable materials are materials that can be gradually degraded into monomers or low molecular weight compounds after a series of reactions by interacting with biological environment. Medical implant Interventional therapy and in vivo drug delivery is currently a key concern in the medical field and is one of the frontier medical technologies. However, the rejection of interventional materials and the difficult metabolism of drug delivery systems pose serious safety problems. Hydrogels, as biocompatible materials, can be modified or compounded to produce high-performance hydrogels with biodegradability. Several experiments have demonstrated the biodegradability of hydrogels without inflammation, confirming their great potential for implant intervention and drug delivery.3、High Water Absorption and Water Retention
Hydrogels have cross-linked networks, so they can dissolve and retain a large amount of water, and their water content can be as high as 99%. The dressing made of hydrogel absorbs the wound exudate while maintaining a moist environment, so it will not cause secondary trauma by adhesion with the wound. And the hydrogel absorbs a large amount of fluid, so it does not need to be changed frequently. In addition, the surface of hydrogel is smooth and highly elastic, and when used as a dressing, it can fit closely to the wound without adhesion and reduce bacterial contact, which is the most advanced medical dressing at present.