Ionic liquid-based gels for biomedical applications

Ionic liquids (ILs) with ion-pair structures have played unprecedented roles in various fields, e.g., organic synthesis, electrochemistry, analytical sciences and functional materials design. Additionally, the newly exploited biological activity makes them promising in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Integrating programmable gels assembly with various properties of ILs enables the combinatorial functionalization and development of ionic liquid gels-based materials. This review summarizes the classification, synthesis, property and oriented applications of ionic liquid-based gels with emphasis on biomedical purposes, e.g., antibacterial, antitumor, drug delivery and hemostasis. It aims to offer new perspectives and attract more attentions to open up the avenue in the biomedical applications of ionic liquid-based gels.