Biomolecule-assisted synthesis of biomimetic nanocomposite hydrogel for hemostatic and wound healing applications

Abstract

Hydrogels are water-rich structures formed by crosslinking of hydrophilic monomers. The hydrophilic three-dimensional (3D) network structures mimic the extracellular matrix of biological soft tissues, and thus find widespread application in the biomedical field. However, lower mechanical strength and lack of structural stability limits their application. In recent years, nanocomposite hydrogels have emerged as novel biomaterials and gained significant research interest in biomedical applications owing to the improved shear-thinning characteristics of the hydrogels. The incorporation of diverse nanomaterials as nanofillers into soft polymer matrixes enhances the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the hydrogels, resulting in the formation of nanocomposite hydrogel with improved chemical and biological properties. Nevertheless, the traditional physical or chemical crosslinking process often raises concerns in terms of toxicity, biocompatibility and environmental issues related to nanocomposite hydrogels during the preparation, application and subsequent disposal. Inspired by natural biological processes, researchers have increasingly investigated the biomolecule-assisted bioinspired synthesis of nanocomposite hydrogels through incorporation of various nanomaterials within hydrogel matrixes to reduce the impact of conventional nanocomposite hydrogels. In this review, the traditional chemical and physical methods of nanocomposite hydrogel formulation and the environmental impact have been explored. The state-of-art biofabrication strategy of nanocomposite hydrogel formulation using a bioinspired approach has been systematically reviewed and the recent progress related to biofabricated nanocomposite hydrogels in hemostatic and wound healing applications has also been highlighted. A brief look at the future prospects of nanocomposite hydrogel is also discussed. This article gives an insight into the advancement of eco-friendly bioinspired strategies for the biofabrication of nanocomposite hydrogels for hemostatic and wound healing applications.