AI Summary
The article discusses a new method developed by scientists to bond hydrogels and other polymeric materials using chitosan. Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials used in various biomedical applications, but fast and strong adhesion between different hydrogel polymers has been a challenge. This new method could enable numerous new applications in the field.
Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials conquering an increasing number of biomedical areas. Consisting of water-swollen molecular networks that can be tailored to mimic the mechanical and chemical features of various organs and tissues, they can interface within the body and on its outer surfaces without causing any damage to even the most delicate parts of the human anatomy.
Hydrogels are already used in clinical practice for the therapeutic delivery of drugs to fight pathogens; as intraocular and contact lenses, and corneal prostheses in ophthalmology; bone cement, wound dressings, blood-coagulating bandages, and 3D scaffolds in tissue engineering and regeneration.
However, attaching hydrogel polymers quickly and strongly to one another has remained an unmet need as traditional methods often result in weaker adhesion after longer-than-desired adhesion times, and rely on complex procedures.
Achieving rapid adhesion of polymers could enable numerous new applications, including, for example, hydrogels whose stiffness could be finely tuned to better conform