Hydrogels, Bio-ceramics, and Polymeric Biomaterials in Regenerative Medicine: Chemical Design, Functionalization, and Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Abstract Regenerative medicine is an inter-disciplinary scientific field that combines biomaterials science, tissue engineering, biotechnology, stem cell biology, and nanotechnology to promote repair and regeneration of injured tissues. Within the broad class of biomaterials being explored for their regenerative properties, hydrogels, bioceramics, and polymeric materials can be highlighted due to their excellent biocompatibility, physicochemical properties, structural diversity, and capacity to mimic the extracellular matrix. Hydrogels represent hydrated three-dimensional networks useful for encapsulation of cells and delivery of therapeutic agents, while bioceramics, which include hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, calcium silicate, and bioactive glasses represent bioactive materials capable of interfacing with bone and dental tissue. Polymers, natural or synthetic, complement their mechanical, degradation, and functionalization properties by facilitating the fabrication of composite materials. Recent developments in nanotechnology, stem cell engineering, gene delivery, smart biomaterials, immunomodulation, and three-dimensional bioprinting of biomaterials have further broadened the possibilities of use of these materials for tissue regeneration purposes. In this review, particular attention will be paid to chemical design and functionalization of biomaterials, cross-linking chemistry, chemical structure-property relationship, degradation processes, ion substitution and surface chemistry of bioceramics, and molecular interactions controlling the loading and release of therapeutic molecules from biomaterials.