Work

Fundamentals of Laser‐Based Hydrogel Degradation and Applications in Cell and Tissue Engineering

Year: 2017

Type: review

Abstract: The cell and tissue engineering fields have profited immensely through the implementation of highly structured biomaterials. The development and implementation of advanced biofabrication techniques have established new avenues for generating biomimetic scaffolds for a multitude of cell and tissue engineering applications. Among these, laser-based degradation of biomaterials is implemented to achieve user-directed features and functionalities within biomimetic scaffolds. This review offers an overview of the physical mechanisms that govern laser-material interactions and specifically, laser-hydrogel interactions. The influences of both laser and material properties on efficient, high-resolution hydrogel degradation are discussed and the current application space in cell and tissue engineering is reviewed. This review aims to acquaint readers with the capability and uses of laser-based degradation of biomaterials, so that it may be easily and widely adopted.

Source: Advanced Healthcare Materials

DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201700681

Authors: Shantanu Pradhan, Keely A. Keller, John L. Sperduto, John H. Slater

Institutions: University of Delaware, Delaware Biotechnology Institute

Language: English

Topic: Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications

Subfield: Molecular Medicine

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green