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Microscale hydrogels
for medicine and biology: synthesis, characteristics and
applications
Christopher Rivest, David W. G. Morrison, Bin Ni, Jamie Rubin, Vikramaditya Yadav, Alborz Mahdavi, Jeffrey M. Karp and Ali Khademhosseini |
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Vol. 2 (2007), No. 6, 1103–1119
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Abstract |
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Microscale hydrogels with dimensions of 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. |
Keywords
BioMEMS, tissue engienering, biomaterials, drug delivery,
hydrophilic polymer, stem cells, regenerative medicine,
biosensor
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Milestones
Received: 20 February 2007
Accepted: 24 February 2007
Published: 1 August 2007
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Authors |
| Christopher Rivest | |
| Department of Mechanical
Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139 United States |
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| David W. G. Morrison | |
| Harvard–MIT Division of Health
Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139 United States |
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| Bin Ni | |
| Department of Biological
Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139 United States |
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| Jamie Rubin | |
| Department of Biological
Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139 United States |
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| Vikramaditya Yadav | |
| Department of Chemical
Engineering University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1 Canada |
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| Alborz Mahdavi | |
| Department of Chemical
Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139 United States |
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| Jeffrey M. Karp | |
| Harvard–MIT Division of Health
Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139 United States |
Center for Biomedical
Engineering Department of Medicine Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02115 United States |
| Ali Khademhosseini | |
| Harvard–MIT Division of Health
Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 02139 United States |
Center for Biomedical
Engineering Department of Medicine Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02115 United States |
| http://www.tissueeng.net/lab/ | |
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