Hydrogels for Medical and Related Applications

Abstract

It is the intention of this paper to review the literature concerning the preparation, properties, and biomedical applications of synthetic hydrogel materials. As the literature on this subject is now voluminous and rapidly expanding (e.g. this symposium) it is difficult to produce a completely comprehensive review of the subject. However, a large number of articles will be examined which should give a useful overview of research interests and directions in this growing, multidisciplinary field. This review will be organized as follows: The introduction will discuss general aspects of synthetic hydrogels and point out similarities between the various distinctly different chemical structures which fit into this category. A short section is included within the introduction on problems related to the measurement and description of the biocompatibility of materials. The following six classes of hydrogel materials will then each be treated individually: poly(hydroxyalkyl methacrylates); poly(acrylamide), poly(methacrylamide) and derivatives; poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone); anionic and cationic