Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7
Moon Suk Kim,
a*
Jae Ho Kim,
a
Gilson Khang,
b
and Hai Bang Lee
a
a
Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University,
Suwon 443-759, Korea
b
Department of Polymer/Nano Science and Technology,
Chonbuk National University, 664-14, Duckjin,
Jeonju 561-756, Korea
*moonskim@ajou.ac.kr
The main goal of this chapter is to provide an introduction of cur-
rentlyavailable
in situ
-forminghydrogelscaffolds.
In situ
-forming
hydrogel scaffolds are based on the idea that if the liquid-to-gel
phase transition takes place at body temperature, certain materi-
alscanbepreparedasaliquidandthenforma
in situ
macroscopic
gel by a syringe injection of their aqueous solutions at target
sites. In tissue engineering, the gel can be applied as a scaffold
with unique properties of easy handling and minimal invasive-
ness. This chapter summarizes
in situ
-forming hydrogel scaffolds,
especially via electrostatic and hydrophobic physical interac-
tions, and briefly explains their application as scaffolds in tissue
engineering.
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