Novel 3D-Printed Hydrogels with Self-Healing Capacity for Regenerative Medicine
Written by AZoMApr 29 2021
Research by the scientific community is being aimed at several applications of hydrogels polymeric materials containing a large amount of water and with the potential to replicate the characteristics of biological tissues.
Image Credit: David Pereiras/Shutterstock.com
This feature is specifically crucial in regenerative medicine, which for a long time has already accepted and been applying the properties of these materials.
For the effective use of hydrogels to substitute organic tissues, they have to adhere to two vital requirements: exhibiting immense geometric complexity and, after any damage, being able to self-heal, precisely like living tissues.
Using light-activated 3D printing to manufacture self-healing hydrogels with complex architectures
The scientific community is focusing its research into the multiple applications of Hydrogels, polymeric materials which contains a large amount of water, that have the potential to reproduce the features of biological tissues.
This aspect is particularly significant in the field of regenerative medicine, which since a long time has already recognized and been using the characteristics of these materials. In order to be used effectively to replace organic tissues, hydrogels must meet two essential requirements: possessing great geometric complexity and, after suffering of a damage, being able to self-heal independently, exactly like living tissues.
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The scientific community is focusing its research into the multiple applications of Hydrogels, polymeric materials which contains a large amount of water, that have the potential to reproduce the features of biological tissues. This aspect is particularly significant in the field of regenerative medicine, which since a long time has already recognised and been using the characteristics of these materials. In order to be used effectively to replace organic tissues, hydrogels must meet two essential requirements: possessing great geometric complexity and, after suffering of a damage, being able to self-heal independently, exactly like living tissues.
The development of these materials may now be easier, and cheaper, thanks to the use of 3D printing: the researchers in the MP4MNT (Materials and Processing for Micro and Nanotechnologies) team of the Department of Applied Science and Technology of the Politecnico di Torino, coordinated by Professor Fabrizio Pirri, have demonst