Composite hydrogels based on gelatin, chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol to biomedical applications: a review

Hydrogels produced from a single polymer show several disadvantages to biomedical applications. Binary and ternary blends of chitosan, gelatin, and polyvinyl alcohol can lead to hydrogels with better and desirable properties than those hydrogels made from a single polymer, which may be modulated on purpose. This article provides a brief overview of the advances in the fabrication of composite hydrogels using binary and ternary blends of gelatin, chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol for biomedical applications, as well as different crosslinkers agents and crosslinking methods used to produce them. The availability of these materials will contribute to future biomaterials to biomedical applications.