Advantages And Disadvantages Of Hydrogels

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Hydrogel-Based Microreactors Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymer networks that swell in water and have diverse applications in biotechnology and biomedicine, including tissue engineering. According to a study cited in reference [216], these materials offer significant advantages over solid matrices made of water-insoluble organic polymers. A well-hydrated environment provides stability and function for immobilized biological cargo, such as enzymes and cells, as noted in reference [218]. A wide range of natural and synthetic polymers can be used to engineer diverse properties into the hydrogel matrices, such as cell adhesiveness and low-fouling behavior, as mentioned in reference [219]. Hydrogel immobilization of biological materials is useful because the pores within the gel are typically 1-10 nm in diameter, allowing the entry of small molecules like enzyme substrates while preventing relatively large entities such as cells and enzymes, as explained in reference [220]. Due to their biocompatibility and high water absorbability, hydrogels are used in many biological applications, including controlled drug delivery, biosensors, contact lenses, and enzyme immobilization, as stated in reference [221]. Hydrogel Microreactors with Immobilized Enzymes
Fejerskov and coworkers performed a systematic investigation on the assembly of surface adhered microstructured (μS) PVA hydrogels as excellent matrices for various biotechnological applications (citation). The varying conditions for polymer coagulation are considered as a tool for assembling μS hydrogels with tunable Young’s moduli, specifically in the range previously shown to generate (sub-)cellular responses in cultured mammalian cells.

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