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Review
. 2023 Jan 22;24(3):2191.
doi: 10.3390/ijms24032191.

Antimicrobial Natural Hydrogels in Biomedicine: Properties, Applications, and Challenges-A Concise Review

Oliwia Kapusta  1 , Anna Jarosz  1 , Katarzyna Stadnik  1 , Dimitrios A Giannakoudakis  2 , Bartłomiej Barczyński  3 , Mariusz Barczak  1
Affiliations
Review

Antimicrobial Natural Hydrogels in Biomedicine: Properties, Applications, and Challenges-A Concise Review

Oliwia Kapusta et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Natural hydrogels are widely used as biomedical materials in many areas, including drug delivery, tissue scaffolds, and particularly wound dressings, where they can act as an antimicrobial factor lowering the risk of microbial infections, which are serious health problems, especially with respect to wound healing. In this review article, a number of promising strategies in the development of hydrogels with biocidal properties, particularly those originating from natural polymers, are briefly summarized and concisely discussed. Common strategies to design and fabricate hydrogels with intrinsic or stimuli-triggered antibacterial activity are exemplified, and the mechanisms lying behind these properties are also discussed. Finally, practical antibacterial applications are also considered while discussing the current challenges and perspectives.

Keywords: antibacterial properties; biomedical applications; hydrogels; tissue regeneration; wound healing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Application of hydrogels in biomedicine.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Intrinsic and external factors influencing the antibacterial activity of chitosan.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Representation of the different targets of antibiotics within bacteria. Reprinted with permission from [68]. Copyright 2022, Elsevier.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Preparation of hydrogels by the freezing-thawing method. (a) polymeric chains in solution, (b) freezing step leading to entrapment of polymeric chains between ice crystals due to phase separation, (c) the gel network is formed as the ice crystals are forming hydrogel pores. Reprinted with permission from [119]. Copyright 2022, Elsevier.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The most popular biological extracts used in antimicrobial hydrogels.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Various targets in the bacteria are available for nanoparticles, particularly silver nanoparticles. Reprinted with permission from [68]. Copyright 2022, Elsevier.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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