Bioresponsive hydrogels

TLDR

Smart biomaterials alter their properties in response to specific biological recognition events. This review highlights recent advances in hydrogel materials engineered for biological responsiveness. Exposure to a biological target triggers molecular recognition that alters interactions, producing macroscopic changes such as swelling or gelation, which can be harnessed for optical biosensing, controlled drug release, or modulation of cellular behavior. Bioresponsive hydrogels are increasingly applied in diagnostics, drug delivery, and tissue regeneration/wound healing.

Abstract

We highlight recent developments in hydrogel materials with biological responsiveness built in. These ‘smart’ biomaterials change properties in response to selective biological recognition events. When exposed to a biological target (nutrient, growth factor, receptor, antibody, enzyme, or whole cell), molecular recognition events trigger changes in molecular interactions that translate into macroscopic responses, such as swelling/collapse or solution-to-gel transitions. The hydrogel transitions may be used directly as optical readouts for biosensing, linked to the release of actives for drug delivery, or instigate biochemical signaling events that control or direct cellular behavior. Accordingly, bioresponsive hydrogels have gained significant interest for application in diagnostics, drug delivery, and tissue regeneration/wound healing.