TY - JOUR
T1 - Microscale hydrogels for medicine and biology
T2 - Synthesis characteristics and applications
AU - Rivest, Christopher
AU - Morrison, David W.G.
AU - Ni, Bin
AU - Rubin, Jamie
AU - Yadav, Vikramaditya
AU - Mahdavi, Alborz
AU - Karp, Jeffrey M.
AU - Khademhosseini, Ali
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - Microscale hydrogels with dimensions of 200 μm or less are powerful tools for various biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biosensors, due to their size, biocompatibility, and their controllable biological, chemical, and mechanical properties. In this review, we provide a broad overview of the approaches used to synthesize and characterize microgels, as well as their applications. We discuss the various methods used to fabricate microgels, such as emulsification, micromolding, microfluidics, and photolithography. Furthermore, we discuss the effects of porosity and crosslinking density on the mechanical and biological properties of hydrogels. In addition, we give specific examples of the use of hydrogels, such as scaffolds and cell encapsulation for tissue engineering, controlled release materials for drug delivery, and environmentally sensitive sensors for microdevices. Finally, we will discuss the future applications of this technology.
AB - Microscale hydrogels with dimensions of 200 μm or less are powerful tools for various biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biosensors, due to their size, biocompatibility, and their controllable biological, chemical, and mechanical properties. In this review, we provide a broad overview of the approaches used to synthesize and characterize microgels, as well as their applications. We discuss the various methods used to fabricate microgels, such as emulsification, micromolding, microfluidics, and photolithography. Furthermore, we discuss the effects of porosity and crosslinking density on the mechanical and biological properties of hydrogels. In addition, we give specific examples of the use of hydrogels, such as scaffolds and cell encapsulation for tissue engineering, controlled release materials for drug delivery, and environmentally sensitive sensors for microdevices. Finally, we will discuss the future applications of this technology.
KW - BioMEMS
KW - Biomaterials
KW - Biosensor
KW - Drug delivery
KW - Hydrophilic polymer
KW - Regenerative medicine
KW - Stem cells
KW - Tissue engineering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34548796454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34548796454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2140/jomms.2007.2.1103
DO - 10.2140/jomms.2007.2.1103
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:34548796454
SN - 1559-3959
VL - 2
SP - 1103
EP - 1119
JO - Journal of Mechanics of Materials and Structures
JF - Journal of Mechanics of Materials and Structures
IS - 6
ER -