Injectable hydrogels

Abstract

Injectable hydrogels are a type of biological material or biomaterial that can be injected in a minimally invasive manner and form a three-dimensional network structure that closely resembles the extracellular matrix of tissues. Natural materials (biological materials) and synthetic materials (biomaterials) are used for synthesizing injectable hydrogels. Injectable hydrogels can retain and release therapeutic agents in a controlled manner. With this capability, injectable hydrogels are a promising tool for various biomedical applications such as drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering. In this chapter, injectable hydrogel properties, synthetic techniques, and the combination of hydrogels and nanomaterials are demonstrated. Applications of injectable hydrogels and their prospects are also discussed.