Nanocomposite hydrogels for biomedical applications. Academic Article

abstract

• Hydrogels mimic native tissue microenvironment due to their porous and hydrated molecular structure. An emerging approach to reinforce polymeric hydrogels and to include multiple functionalities focuses on incorporating nanoparticles within the hydrogel network. A wide range of nanoparticles, such as carbon-based, polymeric, ceramic, and metallic nanomaterials can be integrated within the hydrogel networks to obtain nanocomposites with superior properties and tailored functionality. Nanocomposite hydrogels can be engineered to possess superior physical, chemical, electrical, and biological properties. This review focuses on the most recent developments in the field of nanocomposite hydrogels with emphasis on biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. In particular, we discuss synthesis and fabrication of nanocomposite hydrogels, examine their current limitations and conclude with future directions in designing more advanced nanocomposite hydrogels for biomedical and biotechnological applications.

authors

• Gaharwar, Akhilesh

published proceedings

• Biotechnol Bioeng

altmetric score

• 17.35

author list (cited authors)

• Gaharwar, A. K., Peppas, N. A., & Khademhosseini, A.

citation count

• 855

complete list of authors

• Gaharwar, Akhilesh K||Peppas, Nicholas A||Khademhosseini, Ali

publication date

• March 2014

publisher

• Wiley  Publisher

published in

• Biotechnology and Bioengineering  Journal

keywords

• Biomedical Applications
• Biomedical Technology
• Drug Delivery
• Hydrogels
• Nanocomposite Hydrogels
• Nanocomposites
• Nanoparticles
• Nanotechnology
• Technology, Pharmaceutical
• Tissue Engineering

PubMed Central ID

• 24264728

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1002/bit.25160

start page

• 441

end page

• 453

volume

• 111

issue

• 3

URL

• http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%2Fbit.25160