A review on hydrogels classification and recent developments in biomedical applications

A single because of their distinctive traits, hydrogels have become the most preferred materials for biomedical applications today. Hydrogels are three-dimensional hydrophilic polymeric networks with a high water-holding capacity as well as the ability to store biological fluids. The specific structure and swelling behavior of hydrogel largely influence the water holding and biological properties. The advantageous properties of hydrogels like flexibility, versatility, stimuli-responsive and soft structure make them versatile materials for medical applications. However, extreme water content, porous nature, and smooth in consistency are closely simulated living tissue than other alternative biomaterials. Such a close resemblance of hydrogels triggers several chances in the biomedical field. Hydrogels have a wide footprint in day today products but still their significant use yet not completely explored. Hydrogels have a well-demonstrated appreciable theatrical role in wound healing, contact lenses, tissue engineering, and many hygiene products. But commercially still hydrogels have not been well-explored in tissue engineering and drug delivery. In the meanwhile, a variety of drug-delivery-related devices and scaffolds have been developed, reviewed, and a few have been patented, but few have reached the market. Here, the authors try to focus on hydrogel-based biomaterials and their applications in the healing of wounds, tissue engineering, cosmetics, drug delivery, and contact lenses.