Biomaterials

Hydrogels are three-dimensional, hydrophilic polymeric networks capable of absorbing large amounts of water or biological fluids. Due to their unique properties, such as high water content, biocompatibility, and tunable mechanical properties, hydrogels have emerged as a promising material for various biomedical applications, including drug delivery. In recent years, hydrogels have gained significant attention as drug carriers due to their ability to encapsulate and release a wide range of therapeutic agents, including small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids. Here we take a look at the role of hydrogels in drug delivery.

Immune reactions are a hazard of protein drug development. Why are some foreign proteins such as silk and botulinum toxin (Botox) tolerated when other proteins are not?

Tissue development and homeostasis relies on the availability of spatiotemporal reference points provided by localized variations in physical and chemical parameters. These create gradients along which cells can move and be maintained. Durotaxis is a less well-known but important mechanism by which cells move along a gradient of elasticity (stiffness).

Increasingly, the key roles of biophysical cues in modulating stem cell response have been studied in vitro. Based on the ability of cells to actively sense and react to their microenvironment through mechanotransduction systems, these studies have shown that the growth and differentiation of stem cells can be controlled—even in the absence of biochemical stimuli such as growth factors. These reports further suggest that the stimulation delivered by biophysical cues actually have advantages over biochemical stimuli.

Animal-origin reagents are essential for a multitude of research and biomanufacturing applications. Many important research breakthroughs and life-saving therapeutics would not be possible without them. However, there is increasing pressure for change.