A review on bioadhesive hydrogels for the treatment of corneal tissue
Shaghayegh MoghimiKandelousi1 , Amirreza Ganjali1 *, Shohreh Mashayekhan1
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran, Iran
Abstract: Bioadhesive hydrogels, as alternatives to sutures, are important since they have a great aqueous environment and similar structure to human soft tissue. They should possess special properties. First, they should be strong enough to retain the tissue. Second, at the end of the healing process, they should degrade suitably or be removed easily, causing no tissue damage. Third, their components should be biocompatible and do not bring about any toxic effects. Fourth, depending on the site of action, they should have unique properties. In the cornea, bioadhesive hydrogels must be transparent, oftentimes form in situ, and keep their excellent adhesion in a wet environment.
In this review paper, we not only discussed the advances in adhesive-based corneal wound management but also introduced corneal therapeutic applications of bioadhesive hydrogels in either drug-, cell-, or growth factor-delivery platforms or regenerative approaches. A detailed description of the most common bio-inspired adhesive hydrogels, named mussel-inspired adhesives, was provided alongside the most frequent biocompatible materials.
Methods: We initially introduced mussel-inspired bioadhesive hydrogels in a detailed manner. Then, the article is categorized into different sections considering the base materials of which the bioadhesive hydrogels are composed. Inside each group, applications, such as drug-delivery systems, cell scaffolds, and wound dressers, and properties, such as injectability, hemostatic ability, adhesiveness, biodegradability, cellular signaling, healing capability, etc., are carefully discussed. Moreover, the most considerable challenges regarding hydrogel preparation and therapeutic responses, alongside possible solutions, are briefly talked through.
Results: In this study, we gathered and categorized biomedical advances regarding the applications of bioadhesive hydrogels in corneal treatment. The study shows applicable aspects of bioadhesive hydrogels, ranging from gelation time and minimally-invasive procedures, to in situ and non-toxic polymerization. The presented materials have shown the most promising results in corneal treatment and emphasized the biomedical characterizations required for either healing responses or biocompatibility.
Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review paper discussing and categorizing the agent or cell delivery, wound management, and regenerative applications of bioadhesive hydrogels in cornea treatment. The results of this study will be beneficial to those seeking advantageous approaches in different aspects of corneal therapy.
