Biomedical applications of hydrogels: A review of patents and commercial products

• Published in: European polymer journal Vol. 65; pp. 252 - 267
• Main Authors: Caló, Enrica, Khutoryanskiy, Vitaliy V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2015
• Subjects: Biomaterials; Contact lenses; Drug delivery; Hydrogels; Wound dressings; Drug delivery; Wound dressings; Hydrogels; Contact lenses; Biomaterials
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2014.11.024

[Display omitted] •There are numerous patents on hydrogels but only a few reached the market.•Hydrogels are used for producing contact lenses, hygiene products and wound dressings.•Other commercial uses of hydrogels are in drug delivery and tissue engineering.•More developments are expected in drug delivery and tissue engineering.•High production costs of hydrogels are limiting their further commercialization. Hydrogels have become very popular due to their unique properties such as high water content, softness, flexibility and biocompatibility. Natural and synthetic hydrophilic polymers can be physically or chemically cross-linked in order to produce hydrogels. Their resemblance to living tissue opens up many opportunities for applications in biomedical areas. Currently, hydrogels are used for manufacturing contact lenses, hygiene products, tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery systems and wound dressings. This review provides an analysis of their main characteristics and biomedical applications. From Wichterle’s pioneering work to the most recent hydrogel-based inventions and products on the market, it provides the reader with a detailed introduction to the topic and perspective on further potential developments.