Polyelectrolyte Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

Polyelectrolyte hydrogels are emerging materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications due to their tunable biochemical properties, electrical conductivity, biocompatibility and similar network structure to the extracellular matrix in mammalian bodies. In this review, representative polyelectrolyte hydrogels carrying anionic, cationic, ampholytic, zwitterionic and ionic liquid moieties are systemically cataloged to express their chemical structures and preparation strategies. Recent advance of polyelectrolyte hydrogels in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for drug delivery, skin healing, bone regeneration, cardiac tissue repair and anti-biofouling coating are also highlighted. Eventually, the outlook and challenges of polyelectrolyte hydrogels and their biomedical material applications are also discussed to offer future directions.

Recent Development of Self-Powered Tactile Sensors Based on Ionic Hydrogels

“…Because hydrogels have a high water content and a microporous structure, resolvable salts can disperse easily, allowing the hydrogels to conduct ions. Polyelectrolytes are polymers containing ionic moieties in their repeating units [ 32 ], and they can be crosslinked chemically or physically to produce polyelectrolyte hydrogels. Polysaccharide-based polymers (alginate [ 33 ], chitosan [ 34 ], carrageenan [ 35 ]), polypeptide/protein-based polymers (gelatin [ 36 ], collagen [ 37 ]), and synthetic polymers (polyacrylic acid [ 38 ], poly(sulfobetaine) [ 39 ], carboxymethyl cellulose [ 40 ]) can be used to create polyelectrolyte hydrogels.…”

Hydrogels with electrically conductive nanomaterials for biomedical applications

“…In high concentration electrolyte solutions, polyzwitterionic hydrogels promote fast ion dissociation and transport due to the highly charged polar side groups. 26,28 Wang et al and Liu et al reviewed polyelectrolyte 29 and polyzwitterionic 30 hydrogels for biomedical applications.…”

Tough, Ion-Conductive Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Polyelectrolyte Hydrogels Based on a Double Network for Use as Strain Sensors

“…Over the past few years, polyelectrolyte hydrogels have attracted increasing interest. Polyelectrolyte hydrogels have unique physicochemical properties and better biocompatibility than ionic hydrogels where high concentrations of salt ions are directly added to achieve electrical conductivity . Polyelectrolyte ions can be divided into polyzwitterion, polycations, polyanions, etc .…”

“…Polyelectrolyte hydrogels have unique physicochemical properties and better biocompatibility than ionic hydrogels where high concentrations of salt ions are directly added to achieve electrical conductivity. 14 Polyelectrolyte ions can be divided into polyzwitterion, polycations, polyanions, etc. 14 The electrostatic interactions between the internal groups of conductive hydrogels based on polyelectrolytes facilitate the transmission of ionic electrical signals.…”

“…14 Polyelectrolyte ions can be divided into polyzwitterion, polycations, polyanions, etc. 14 The electrostatic interactions between the internal groups of conductive hydrogels based on polyelectrolytes facilitate the transmission of ionic electrical signals. Meanwhile, polyelectrolyte hydrogels have excellent tensile elongation and selfhealing ability.…”