Cryogels for biomedical applications

Abstract

The use of hydrogels as support materials for the growth and proliferation of mammalian cells has been well documented as they closely mimic the gel-like properties-and in some cases also the chemical properties-of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which naturally surrounds the cells of any biological tissue. Macro-porous hydrogels set below the freezing point of the solvent, so-called 'cryogels', have recently gained significant interest in the fields of tissue engineering and in vitro cell culture, thanks to their inherent interconnected macro-porous structure and ease of formation in comparison to other macro-pore forming techniques. This review highlights recent advances in cryogelation te..