Issue 5, 2024

Organic–inorganic composite hydrogels: compositions, properties, and applications in regenerative medicine

Abstract

Hydrogels, formed from crosslinked hydrophilic macromolecules, provide a three-dimensional microenvironment that mimics the extracellular matrix. They served as scaffold materials in regenerative medicine with an ever-growing demand. However, hydrogels composed of only organic components may not fully meet the performance and functionalization requirements for various tissue defects. Composite hydrogels, containing inorganic components, have attracted tremendous attention due to their unique compositions and properties. Rigid inorganic particles, rods, fibers, etc., can form organic–inorganic composite hydrogels through physical interaction and chemical bonding with polymer chains, which can not only adjust strength and modulus, but also act as carriers of bioactive components, enhancing the properties and biological functions of the composite hydrogels. Notably, incorporating environmental or stimulus-responsive inorganic particles imparts smartness to hydrogels, hence providing a flexible diagnostic platform for in vitro cell culture and in vivo tissue regeneration. In this review, we discuss and compare a set of materials currently used for developing organic–inorganic composite hydrogels, including the modification strategies for organic and inorganic components and their unique contributions to regenerative medicine. Specific emphasis is placed on the interactions between the organic or inorganic components and the biological functions introduced by the inorganic components. The advantages of these composite hydrogels indicate their potential to offer adaptable and intelligent therapeutic solutions for diverse tissue repair demands within the realm of regenerative medicine.

Graphical abstract: Organic–inorganic composite hydrogels: compositions, properties, and applications in regenerative medicine

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
30 okt. 2023
Accepted
09 jan. 2024
First published
10 jan. 2024

Biomater. Sci., 2024,12, 1079-1114

Organic–inorganic composite hydrogels: compositions, properties, and applications in regenerative medicine

X. Wang, W. Wei, Z. Guo, X. Liu, J. Liu, T. Bing, Y. Yu, X. Yang and Q. Cai, Biomater. Sci., 2024, 12, 1079 DOI: 10.1039/D3BM01766D

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