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Electrostatically Interactive Injectable Hydrogels for Drug Delivery

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Background:

Several injectable hydrogels have been developed extensively for a broad range of biomedical applications. Injectable hydrogels forming in situ through the change in external stimuli have the distinct properties of easy management and minimal invasiveness, and thus provide the advantage of bypassing surgical procedures for administration resulting in better patient compliance.

Methods:

The injectable in situ-forming hydrogels can be formed irreversibly or reversibly under physiological stimuli. Among several external stimuli that induce formation of hydrogels in situ, in this review, we focused on the electrostatic interactions as the most simple and interesting stimulus.

Results:

Currently, numerous polyelectrolytes have been reported as potential electrostatically interactive in situ-forming hydrogels. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the rapidly developing electrostatically interactive in situ-forming hydrogels, which are produced by various anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes such as chitosan, celluloses, and alginates, has been outlined and summarized. Further, their biomedical applications have also been discussed.

Conclusion:

The review concludes with perspectives on the future of electrostatically interactive in situ-forming hydrogels.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Pukyong National University Research Abroad Fund in 2014 (C-D-2014-0713).

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Author notes

  1. Ji Young Seo, Bong Lee and Tae Woong Kang are equal first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 Worldcup-ro, Yeongton-gu, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea

    Ji Young Seo, Tae Woong Kang, Jung Hyun Noh, Min Ju Kim, Yun Bae Ji, Hyeon Jin Ju, Byoung Hyun Min & Moon Suk Kim

  2. Department of Polymer Engineering, Pukyong National University, 45 Yongso-ro, Nam-Gu, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea

    Bong Lee

  3. Cell Therapy Center, Ajou University Medical Center, 206 Worldcup-ro, Yeongton-gu, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea

    Byoung Hyun Min

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  1. Ji Young Seo
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Correspondence to Moon Suk Kim.

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Seo, J.Y., Lee, B., Kang, T.W. et al. Electrostatically Interactive Injectable Hydrogels for Drug Delivery. Tissue Eng Regen Med 15, 513–520 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-018-0146-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-018-0146-6

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