Nanoparticle-reinforced polyacrylamide hydrogel composites for clinical applications: a review

Polyacrylamide hydrogels have made an immensely important place in various fields having bio-compatibility, high water-holding capacity, tunability and cheap synthesis, which has attracted researchers’ attention. Polyacrylamide can be chemically infused with other elements or compounds to find applications in magnetic biosensors, drug delivery, cartilage repair and wound dressing. This paper throws light on the brief introduction of hydrogels and their classification. The polymerization method of polyacrylamide hydrogel followed by its clinical uses (cell biology and drug delivery) is adorned in the report. Keeping at the centre, the recent highlights on the research work done on polyacrylamide hydrogel composites using various reinforcing additives are crucially explored first time in the present report. The improvement practice in the strength, bonding and self-healing of the polyacrylamide hydrogel is demonstrated by the encapsulation of nanoparticles like silicon, carbon nanotubes, gelatine, cellulose, etc. The clinical aspects of the polyacrylamide are corroborated by the cell viability, proliferation and migration. Thus, polyacrylamide hydrogels are emerging candidates, precisely illuminated in the review, which can be an influential highlight designed for upcoming research.Graphical abstract