Recent advances in polymeric hydrogel scaffolds for skin tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Varuna Naga Venkata, Arjun Uppuluri, Shanmugarajan T S*, Sai Krishna Bhimavarapu, Lokesh E

Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT

Lack of self-healing capability in skin tissue defects caused by various traumatic conditions often leads to a challenging situation for clinical practitioners. Although various procedures are offered in clinics, some of which effectively restores the skin tissue to some patients, none of them result in an adequate tissue repair that can withstand mechanical stresses under natural weight-bearing conditions. The ability of hydrogels to form 3D networks, which can be fine-tuned using biocompatibility and biodegradability factors, has sparked much interest in these hydrophilic polymers. A systematic overview of emerging hydrogel-based therapies for skin tissue repair is presented in the current study to address the unsolved issue of skin tissue defects and test whether such therapeutic approaches may enhance the healing process where skin tissue has been damaged.

Keywords:

Skin, Wound healing, Hydrogel, scaffold, polymers