Magnetic Hydrogels and Their Potential Biomedical Applications

TLDR

Hydrogels are widely used in biomedical engineering for their hydrated, tunable properties resembling the extracellular matrix, yet challenges in controllability, actuation, and rapid response limit their use in 3D tissue constructs and drug delivery, and magnetic hydrogels have emerged as a biocomposite with active response properties and broader applications. This review surveys state‑of‑the‑art methods for preparing magnetic hydrogels and evaluates their advantages and drawbacks in biomedical applications. The review also examines the applications of magnetic hydrogels across tissue engineering, drug delivery and release, enzyme immobilization, cancer therapy, and soft actuators. Concluding remarks highlight future directions for the development of magnetic hydrogels.

Abstract

Abstract Hydrogels find widespread applications in biomedical engineering due to their hydrated environment and tunable properties (e.g., mechanical, chemical, biocompatible) similar to the native extracellular matrix (ECM). However, challenges still exist regarding utilizing hydrogels in applications such as engineering 3D tissue constructs and active targeting in drug delivery, due to the lack of controllability, actuation, and quick‐response properties. Recently, magnetic hydrogels have emerged as a novel biocomposite for their active response properties and extended applications. In this review, the state‐of‐the‐art methods for magnetic hydrogel preparation are presented and their advantages and drawbacks in applications are discussed. The applications of magnetic hydrogels in biomedical engineering are also reviewed, including tissue engineering, drug delivery and release, enzyme immobilization, cancer therapy, and soft actuators. Concluding remarks and perspectives for the future development of magnetic hydrogels are addressed.