Protein-Based Hydrogels: Promising Materials for Tissue Engineering

Overview

Journal Polymers (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Date 2022 Mar 10

PMID 35267809

Authors

Niyousha Davari

Negar Bakhtiary

Mehran Khajehmohammadi

Soulmaz Sarkari

Hamidreza Tolabi

Farnaz Ghorbani

Behafarid Ghalandari

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The successful design of a hydrogel for tissue engineering requires a profound understanding of its constituents' structural and molecular properties, as well as the proper selection of components. If the engineered processes are in line with the procedures that natural materials undergo to achieve the best network structure necessary for the formation of the hydrogel with desired properties, the failure rate of tissue engineering projects will be significantly reduced. In this review, we examine the behavior of proteins as an essential and effective component of hydrogels, and describe the factors that can enhance the protein-based hydrogels' structure. Furthermore, we outline the fabrication route of protein-based hydrogels from protein microstructure and the selection of appropriate materials according to recent research to growth factors, crucial members of the protein family, and their delivery approaches. Finally, the unmet needs and current challenges in developing the ideal biomaterials for protein-based hydrogels are discussed, and emerging strategies in this area are highlighted.

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