This book reviews the current knowledge on tunable hydrogels, including the range of different materials and applications, as well as the existing challenges and limitations in the field. It covers various aspects of the material design, particularly highlighting biological responsiveness, degradability and responsiveness to external stimuli. In this book, readers will discover original research data and state-of-the-art reviews in the area of hydrogel technology, with a specific focus on biotechnology and medicine. Written by leading experts, the contributions outline strategies for designing tunable hydrogels and offer a detailed evaluation of the physical and synthetic methods currently employed to achieve specific hydrogel properties and responsiveness. This highly informative book provides important theoretical and practical insights for scholars and researchers working with hydrogels for biomedical and biotechnological applications.

This book introduces readers to the latest advances in hydrogel biomaterials, mainly focusing on the emerging areas of synthetic and biopolymer hydrogels formed through specially designed chemical or physical crosslinking, and the cyclodextrin-based host-guest supramolecular self-assembly, for cell encapsulation, cell expansion, cell differentiation and tissue repair, stem cell culture, and cellular therapy and drug delivery applications. The book was written by experts at the forefront of these interdisciplinary areas and is intended for all researchers working in the fields of biomaterials and biomedical engineering, as well as medical professions. Jun Li is a Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Yoshihito Osada is a Professor at RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, Japan. Justin Cooper-White is a Professor at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Australia.

Polymeric Gels: Characterization, Properties and Biomedical Applications covers the fundamentals and applications of polymeric gels. Particular emphasis is given to their synthesis, properties and characteristics, with topics such as natural, synthetic, and smart polymeric gels, medical applications, and advancements in conductive and magnetic gels presented. The book covers the basics and applications of hydrogels, providing readers with a comprehensive guide on the types of polymeric gels used in the field of biomedical engineering. - Provides guidance for decisions on the suitability and appropriateness of a synthetic route and characterization technique for particular polymeric networks - Analyzes and compares experimental data - Presents in-depth information on the physical properties of polymeric gels using mathematical models - Uses an interdisciplinary approach to discuss potential new applications for both established polymeric gels and recent advances

Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications Comprehensive resource presenting a thorough overview of the biomedical applications of hydrogels This book provides an overview of the development and applications of the clinically relevant hydrogels that are used particularly in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, it goes through the material from chemistry, materials science, biology, medicine, nanotechnology, and bioengineering points of view. Sample topics covered by the three well-qualified editors include: The design, functions, and developments of hydrogels Proteins and polysaccharides that mimic extracellular matrix Generation and applications of supramolecular hydrogels Design and functions of cell encapsulation systems Multifunctional Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications is a useful all-in-one reference work for materials scientists, polymer chemists, and bioengineers which provides a comprehensive, contemporary understanding of hydrogels and their applications targeting a wide variety of pathologies.

This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact.

This book covers a broad area of engineering research in translational medicine. Leaders in academic institutions around the world contributed focused chapters on a broad array of topics such as: cell and tissue engineering (6 chapters), genetic and protein engineering (10 chapters), nanoengineering (10 chapters), biomedical instrumentation (4 chapters), and theranostics and other novel approaches (4 chapters). Each chapter is a stand-alone review that summarizes the state-of-the-art of the specific research area. Engineering in Translational Medicine gives readers a comprehensive and in-depth overview of a broad array of related research areas, making this an excellent reference book for scientists and students both new to engineering/translational medicine and currently working in this area. The ability for engineering approaches to change biomedical research are increasing and having significant impact. Development of basic assays and their numerous applications are allowing for many new discoveries and should eventually impact human health. This book brings together many diverse yet related topics to give the reader a solid overview of many important areas that are not found together elsewhere. Dr. Weibo Cai has taken great care to select key research leaders of many sub-disciplines who have put together very detailed chapters that are easy to read yet highly rich in content. _______________ This book brings together many diverse yet related topics to give the reader a solid overview of many important areas that are not found together elsewhere. Dr. Weibo Cai has taken great care to select key research leaders of many sub-disciplines who have put together very detailed chapters that are easy to read yet highly rich in content. It is very exciting to see such a great set of chapters all together to allow one to have a key understanding of many different areas including cell, gene, protein, and nano engineering as well as the emerging field of theranostics. I am sure the readers will find this collection of important chapters helpful in their own research and understanding of how engineering has and will continue to play a critical role in biomedical research and clinical translation. Sanjiv Sam Gambhir M.D., Ph.D. Stanford University, USA Engineering in Translational Medicine is a landmark book bridging the fields of engineering and medicine with a focus on translational technologies and methods. In a single, well-coordinated volume, this book brings together contributions from a strong and international scientific cast, broadly covering the topics. The book captures the tremendous opportunities made possible by recent developments in bioengineering, and highlights the potential impact of these advances across a broad spectrum of pressing health care needs. The book can equally serve as a text for graduate level courses, a reference source, a book to be dipped into for pleasure by those working within the field, or a cover-to-cover read for those wanting a comprehensive, yet readable introduction to the current state of engineering advances and how they are impacting translational medicine. Simon R. Cherry, Ph.D. University of California, Davis, USA

This book is the second of two volumes that together offer a comprehensive account of cutting-edge advances in the development of biomaterials for use within tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this volume, which is devoted to biomimetic biomaterials, the opening section discusses bone regeneration by means of duck’s feet-derived collagen scaffold and the use of decellularized extracellular matrices. The role of various novel biomimetic hydrogels in regenerative medicine is then considered in detail. The third section focuses on the control of stem cell fate by biomimetic biomaterials, covering exosome-integrated biomaterials for bone regeneration, cellular responses to materials for biomedical engineering, and the regulation of stem cell functions by micropatterned structures. Finally, the use of nano-intelligent biocomposites in regenerative medicine is addressed, with discussion of, for example, recent advances in biphasic calcium phosphate bioceramics and blood-contacting polymeric biomaterials. The authors are recognized experts in the interdisciplinary field of regenerative medicine and the book will be of value for all with an interest in regenerative medicine based on biomaterials.