David Esporrín-Ubieto, Ana Sofía Sonzogni, Mercedes Fernández, Arantxa Acera, Eider Matxinandiarena, Juan F Cadavid-Vargas, Itxaso Calafel, Ruth N Schmarsow, Alejandro J Müller, Aitor Larrañaga, Marcelo Calderón
Over the last decade, significant progress has been made in developing hydrogels as medical devices. By physically cross-linking pharmaceutically approved polymers into three-dimensional matrices, we can ensure their biocompatibility and facilitate their seamless transition from the laboratory to clinical applications. Moreover, the reversible nature of their physical cross-links allows hydrogels to dissolve in the presence of external stimuli. Particularly, their high degree of hydration, high molecular weight, and superior flexibility of the polymer chains facilitate their interaction with complex biological barriers ( e...
September 20, 2023: Journal of Materials Chemistry. B, Materials for Biology and Medicine