Paper Key : IRJ************184
Author: Mohd Adil Tahseen,Anjali Gangwar,Sachin Kumar
Date Published: 12 Nov 2024
Abstract
A class of polymeric materials known as hydrogel products can retain a lot of water in its three-dimensional networks due to its hydrophilic structure. It is thought to be crucial to use these products extensively in a variety of industrial and environmental application areas. Hydrogel applications adhere to logical structure and functional design by modifying its physicochemical properties (e.g., stiffness, pore size, viscoelasticity, microarchitecture, degradability, ligand presentation, stimulus-responsive properties, etc.) through material engineering. Numerous groundbreaking studies have been conducted in the last few decades to investigate the interactions between cells and hydrogel matrixes and determine the underlying mechanisms, opening the door for translating hydrogel-based therapies from the lab to the clinic. To date, hydrogels have significantly influenced a variety of biomedical fields, including drug screening, tissue engineering, cancer treatment, and cosmetic medicine. The in-depth understanding of how cells respond to the physicochemical and structural characteristics of the hydrogel matrix in terms of behavior and signal transmission helps to enhance material approaches to better regulate cell destiny and biology for desired needs. Generally speaking, the cell would take in material cues from its surroundings and convert them into intracellular biochemical signals that might affect viability, gene expression, and cell lineage commitment. Importantly, to better replicate the intricate native matrix, researchers focus on a broader variety of hydrogel characteristics and dimensions, including three-dimensionality, hydrogel architecture, degradability, and dynamic properties. This helps to expand and deepen our understanding of how hydrogel physiochemical, mechanical, and structural cues control the phenotype, function, and fate of cells. The clinic transitioning of hydrogel therapeutics is currently limited due to unexpected side effects and issues as well as improper administration strategies, despite the exciting and significant advancements in hydrogel design. These challenges can be addressed by material optimization when a material library has been created and screened.
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