Methyl Cellulose based in situ Hydrogel for Controlled Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering Application

Methyl cellulose is an attractive smart biomaterial for its thermoreversible gelation nature. When subjected to temperature stimuli, an aqueous solution containing methyl cellulose at a critical concentration exhibits the ability to form stable physically cross-linked hydrogels. These hydrogels alter the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the methyl cellulose. This thermo-responsive nature become quite appealing when the physiological temperature functions as a trigger to regulate the thermogelation of methyl cellulose. Regarding this, exciting inventions have been explored in the drug delivery and tissue engineering field which make methyl cellulose an attractive and versatile biomaterial. In this review, we have covered traditional and advanced applications of methyl cellulose as thermoreversible in situ gelling system. Three main types of applications are presented: (i) in situ gelling system for controlled drug delivery; (ii) fabrication of injectable scaffolds and cell sheet for tissue engineering application; and finally (iii) developing methyl cellulose based bioink for 3D bioprinting by applying in situ thermogelation property of methyl cellulose.