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Biomedical application, patent repository, clinical trial and regulatory updates on hydrogel: an extensive review

Mohapatra, Sradhanjali; Mirza, Mohd. Aamir; Hilles, Ayah Rebhi; Zakir, Foziyah; Gomes, Andreia C; Ansari, Mohammad Javed; Iqbal, Zeenat; Mahmood, Syed

Abstract

Hydrogels are known for their leading role in biomaterial systems involving pharmaceuticals that fascinate material scientists to work on the wide variety of biomedical applications. The physical and mechanical properties of hydrogels, along with their biodegradability and biocompatibility characteristics, have made them an attractive and flexible tool with various applications such as imaging, diagnosis and treatment. The water-cherishing nature of hydrogels and their capacity to swell—contingent upon a few ecological signals or the simple presence of water—is alluring for drug conveyance applications. Currently, there are several problems relating to drug delivery, to which hydrogel may provide a possible solution. Hence, it is pertinent to collate updates on hydrogels pertaining to biomedical applications. The primary objective of this review article is to garner information regarding classification, properties, methods of preparations, and of the polymers used with particular emphasis on injectable hydrogels. This review also covers the regulatory and other commerce specific information. Further, it enlists several patents and clinical trials of hydrogels with related indications and offers a consolidated resource for all facets associated with the biomedical hydrogels.

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gels Re iew Biomedical Applica ion, Pa en Reposi o y, Clinical T ial and Regula o y Upda es on Hyd ogel: An Ex ensi e Re iew S adhanjali Mohapa a 1,†, Mohd. Aami Mi za 1,† , Ayah Rebhi Hilles 2, Foziyah Zaki 3, And eia Cas o Gomes 4,5 , Mohammad Ja ed Ansa i 6, Zeena Iqbal 1,* and Syed Mahmood 7,8,*   Ci a ion: Mohapa a, S.; Mi za, M.A.; Hilles, A.R.; Zaki , F.; Gomes, A.C.; Ansa i, M.J.; Iqbal, Z.; Mahmood, S. Biomedical Applica ion, Pa en Reposi o y, Clinical T ial and Regula o y Upda es on Hyd ogel: An Ex ensi e Re iew. Gels 2021,7, 207. h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/gels7040207 Academic Edi o s: Esmaiel Jabba i and Mohsen Akba i Recei ed: 5 Sep embe 2021 Accep ed: 8 No embe 2021 Published: 12 No embe 2021 Publishe ’s No e: MDPI s ays neu al wi h ega d o ju isdic ional claims in published maps and ins i u ional a il- ia ions. Copy igh : © 2021 by he au ho s. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Swi ze land. This a icle is an open access a icle dis ibu ed unde he e ms and condi ions o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion (CC BY) license (h ps:// c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by/ 4.0/). 1Depa men o Pha maceu ics, School o Pha maceu ics Educa ion and Resea ch (SPER), Jamia Hamda d, New Delhi 110062, India; [email p o ec ed] (S.M.); [email p o ec ed] (M.A.M.) 2 In e na ional Ins i u e o Halal Resea ch and T aining (INHART), In e na ional Islamic Uni e si y Malaysia, Kuala Lumpu 53100, Malaysia; [email p o ec ed] 3Depa men o Pha maceu ics, School o Pha maceu ical Sciences, Delhi Pha maceu ical Sciences and Resea ch Uni e si y, New Delhi 110017, India; [email p o ec ed] 4Cen e o Molecula and En i onmen al Biology (CBMA), Uni e sidade do Minho, Campus de Gual a , 4710-057 B aga, Po ugal; [email p o ec ed] 5 Ins i u e o Science and Inno a ion o Bio-Sus ainabili y (IB-S), Uni e sidade do Minho, Campus de Gual a , 4710-057 B aga, Po ugal 6Depa men o Pha maceu ics, College o Pha macy, P ince Sa am Bin Abdulaziz Uni e si y, Alkha j 11942, Saudi A abia; [email p o ec ed] 7Depa men o Pha maceu ical Technology, Facul y o Pha macy, Uni e si i Malaya, Kuala Lumpu 50603, Malaysia 8Cen e o Na u al P oduc s Resea ch and D ug Disco e y (CENAR), Uni e si i Malaya, Kuala Lumpu 50603, Malaysia *Co espondence: [email p o ec ed] (Z.I.); [email p o ec ed] (S.M.) † Au ho s sha e equal con ibu ion. Abs ac : Hyd ogels a e known o hei leading ole in bioma e ial sys ems in ol ing pha maceu i- cals ha ascina e ma e ial scien is s o wo k on he wide a ie y o biomedical applica ions. The physical and mechanical p ope ies o hyd ogels, along wi h hei biodeg adabili y and biocompa i- bili y cha ac e is ics, ha e made hem an a ac i e and lexible ool wi h a ious applica ions such as imaging, diagnosis and ea men . The wa e -che ishing na u e o hyd ogels and hei capaci y o swell—con ingen upon a ew ecological signals o he simple p esence o wa e —is allu ing o d ug con eyance applica ions. Cu en ly, he e a e se e al p oblems ela ing o d ug deli e y, o which hyd ogel may p o ide a possible solu ion. Hence, i is pe inen o colla e upda es on hyd ogels pe aining o biomedical applica ions. The p ima y objec i e o his e iew a icle is o ga ne in o ma ion ega ding classi ica ion, p ope ies, me hods o p epa a ions, and o he polyme s used wi h pa icula emphasis on injec able hyd ogels. This e iew also co e s he egula o y and o he comme ce speci ic in o ma ion. Fu he , i enlis s se e al pa en s and clinical ials o hyd o- gels wi h ela ed indica ions and o e s a consolida ed esou ce o all ace s associa ed wi h he biomedical hyd ogels. Keywo ds: hyd ogel; bioma e ial; pa en s; injec able; egula o y; d ug deli e y 1. In oduc ion Hyd ogels a e polyme ic ma ices ha ing a h ee-dimensional con igu a ion ha abso b wa e and unde go swelling bu do no dissol e (sho e m) and acili a e he con olled d ug- elease in o ou body [ 1 ]. The high he modynamic a ini y o his class o ma e ials owa ds he sol en is con ibu ed owa ds i s swelling p ope y. They bea a physical esemblance o li ing issues because o hei signi ican wa e con en and consis ency. The e is also a unique ype o hyd ogel, called as in elligen gels o sma gels. They can pe cei e he s imuli and espond by exhibi ing changes in hei physical o chemical beha io s and subsequen elease o he en apped d ug. Hyd ogels a e widely Gels 2021,7, 207. h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/gels7040207 h ps://www.mdpi.com/jou nal/gels Gels 2021,7, 207 2 o 32 explo ed as a ool o biomedical applica ions due o hei abili y o o m c osslink unde mild condi ions coupled wi h high e sa ili y, excellen biocompa ibili y, and pe meabili y o oxygen, nu ien and unable ma e ial’s p ope ies. Hyd ogels can be delega ed as a ool ha mee s he pa icula necessi ies o ocus on he medica ion o he speci ic egion and con ol i s elease. P ope ies o a hyd ogel such as hyd oly ic, enzyma ic and ecological play a ole o con ol he deli e y o medica ion wi h he desi ed objec i es such as ex ending hei d ug elease p o ile, and expanding he choice o medicamen s di e en d ug deli e y applica ions [ 2 ]. The hyd ophilic unc ional g oups a ached o he polyme ic backbone o hyd ogels a e esponsible o hei a ini y o abso b wa e . C osslinking be ween he ne wo k chains is answe able o i s esis ance o dissolu ion [ 3 ]. Bo h na u al and syn he ic ma e ials can be used in he p epa a ion o hyd ogels. Syn he ic hyd ogels ha e eplaced hei na u al coun e pa s om he las ew decades due o hei high wa e -abso bing capaci y, long shel li e, high gel s eng h, and be e s abili y p o ile in sha p luc ua ing empe a u es. Again, well-de ined s uc u es o syn he ic polyme s can be modi ied o yield ailo -able unc ionali y and deg adabili y [ 4 ]. Hyd ogel has a long his o y o e olu ion and has been epo ed upon wi h di e se classi ica ions. The e m hyd ogel was ini ially coined in he yea 1894 by Van Bemme- len [ 5 ]. The i s -e e syn he ic hyd ogel poly(2-hyd oxye hyl me hac yla e) (pHEMA) was syn hesized by scien is s DuPon in 1936, and he i s d ug deli e y hyd ogel Ce idil ® o ce ical ipening was launched in 1995 [5]. Since hen, con inuous esea ch and de el- opmen in hyd ogel has led o a o al o 329, 350 pa en s iled un il oday. Howe e , he i s gene a ion o hyd ogels aimed a de eloping a e ac wi h high swelling and good mechanical p ope ies wi h ela i ely simple a ionale. I comp ises chemical modi ica ions o a monome o polyme wi h an ini ia o by in ol ing many c oss-linking p ocedu es. In compa ison, he second gene a ion o hyd ogel can p oduce a esponse conce ning speci ic s imuli, such as a ia ions in empe a u e, p essu e, ligh , magne ic ields, elec ical ields, pH o concen a ion o speci ic molecules in solu ion. These speci ic s imuli can be exploi ed o igge speci ic e en s. Howe e , he hi d gene a ion o hyd ogels ocusing on he s udy and de elopmen o s e eo complexed ma e ials (e.g., PEG-PLA in e ac ion) [ 6 , 7 ] o o med by c osslinking due o o he physical in e ac ions [ 8 , 9 ]. Nowadays, esea ch ocuses on de eloping he so-called “sma hyd ogels”, polyme ic ma ices ha ing a b oad spec um o unable p ope ies. Ne e heless, he e a e se e al di icul ies associa ed wi h u ilizing hyd ogels such as hyd ophobici y o he ac i e ing edien s, which may c ea e p oblems du ing medica ion con eyance du ing ea men . The wa e -che ishing poly- me ic cen e is mos likely no an ideal si e o hold incong uen hyd ophobic medica ions. O he hyd ogels ha e ail elas ici y, which occasionally causes ea ly a i al o he medi- ca ion be o e landing a he objec i e si e. In ecen yea s, esea ch on hyd ogel has been con inuously inc eased which can be e iden om he Figu e 1. Fu he , hese s a is ics e eal a many old inc ease in he numbe o pa en publica ions ela ed o he injec able hyd ogel as compa ed o hyd ogel om he las wo decades. Hyd ogel con olled medica ion deli e s he ac i e cons i uen by u ilizing amewo k gadge s ha pe mi di usion o medica ion and discha ge h ough a c oss-sec ion (po es) ha a e loaded up wi h wa e . In he supply deli e y amewo k, he hyd ogel ilm is co e ed on a medica ion con aining cen e , c ea ing sec ions, cases and ci cles o ha ing a high medica ion ocus on he ocal poin o he amewo k o encou age a s eady medica ion discha ge a e. While he supply deli e y amewo k p oduces ime- ee and consis en medica ion discha ge using he mac omolecula la ice. La ice deli e y is ime-subo dina e medica ion discha ge in which he unde lying deli e y a e is ela i e o he squa e base o ime ins ead o being s eady. The d ugs a e dispe sed in a polyme , and when hey come in o con ac wi h wa e o bio- luid hey will begin o swell. Du ing swelling, i will expand, which will ease he sp ead o he d ug along wi h he elaxa ion o he polyme chain ha suppo s ime-independen and cons an d ug elease kine ics. The ac i e ing edien di uses om he dispe sed d ug ha ing a highe concen a ion wi hin he hyd ogel o i s su ounding en i onmen wi h lowe concen a ion due o he concen a ion g adien . Gels 2021,7, 207 3 o 32 This me hod combines bo h he p ocesses o di usion and swelling o enabling d ug elease [10]. 1 Figu e 1. His og am ep esen ing he published pa en s ela ed wi h he hyd ogels ( A ); and injec able hyd ogels (B). The ollowing ma hema ical model can explain he p ocess o swelling o a hyd ogel ma ix: dc/d = ∆D( )∆c−∆(cu) (1) whe e, dc/d = change in concen a ion wi h ime, c = concen a ion o d ug in he hyd ogel D( ) = di usion coe icien ∆c = concen a ion g adien u = swelling capaci y o he hyd ogel. Gels 2021,7, 207 4 o 32 The di usion p ocess is go e ned by Fick’s law o di usion which s a es ha di usion occu s om a egion o high concen a ion o he low concen a ion: dc/d = χd2c/dx2 (2) whe e χ= di usi i y, = ime x = dimension (in leng h) Hyd ogels signi ican ly imp o e he emedial esul o medica ion con eyance and ha e disco e ed gigan ic clinical use. The wo ldly and h ee-dimensional con eyance o mac omolecula medica ions ha e ex ao dina ily imp o ed h ough hyd ogel used o d ug deli e y [ 2 ]. E en hough medica ion con eyance u ilizing hyd ogels has no been libe a ed om di icul ies, consis en upg ades a e being made o dis inguish he hyd ogel con igu a ion mos app op ia e o explici medica ion deli e y pu poses. Howe e , hy- d ogels ha e ecen ly d awn g ea a en ion o use in a di e si ied biomedical ield o a ious applica ions such as he sus ained elease o ac i e medicamen s, cell he apeu ics, cosme ics use, issue egene a ion and wound healing, e c. The ollowing igu e, Figu e 2, illus a es he applica ion o a ious hyd ogels used in di e en body pa s o humans. Gels 2021, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 5 o 36 Figu e 2. Applica ions o hyd ogels in di e en human body pa s. This e iew b ings oge he di e en aspec s o he hyd ogel, such as classi ica ion, p ope ies, p epa a ion me hods, he polyme used, and applica ions in he biomedical ield. I speci ically elabo a es he injec able hyd ogels enlis ing hei o mula ions o mi - iga ing diseases. Fu he , i emphasizes on he egula o y aspec s o comme cial hyd ogel highligh ing he in o ma ion ela ed o ce ain ing edien s. Addi ionally, i encompasses se e al pa en s, clinical ials and exis ing comme cial hyd ogel p oduc s wi h ela ed in- dica ions. This e iew may ac as a esou ce o he hyd ogel sys em conce ning he bio- medical a ea co e ing all he essen ial aspec s and may pa e he way o conduc u u e esea ch in his pa icula ield. 2. Classi ica ion o Hyd ogel-Based Sys em The e a e se e al opinions ound in he li e a u e conce ning he classi ica ion o hy- d ogel. They may be classi ied on he basis o he sou ce om which hey a e ob ained, physical p ope ies, s uc u es, c osslinking p esen , he ionic cha ge on bound g oups, p epa a ion me hods and s imuli gi en o p oduce a speci ic esponse. Based on he abo e, he classi ica ion o he hyd ogels a e shown in Figu e 3. Figu e 2. Applica ions o hyd ogels in di e en human body pa s. Gels 2021,7, 207 5 o 32 This e iew b ings oge he di e en aspec s o he hyd ogel, such as classi ica ion, p ope ies, p epa a ion me hods, he polyme used, and applica ions in he biomedical ield. I speci ically elabo a es he injec able hyd ogels enlis ing hei o mula ions o mi i- ga ing diseases. Fu he , i emphasizes on he egula o y aspec s o comme cial hyd ogel highligh ing he in o ma ion ela ed o ce ain ing edien s. Addi ionally, i encompasses se e al pa en s, clinical ials and exis ing comme cial hyd ogel p oduc s wi h ela ed indica ions. This e iew may ac as a esou ce o he hyd ogel sys em conce ning he biomedical a ea co e ing all he essen ial aspec s and may pa e he way o conduc u u e esea ch in his pa icula ield. 2. Classi ica ion o Hyd ogel-Based Sys em The e a e se e al opinions ound in he li e a u e conce ning he classi ica ion o hyd ogel. They may be classi ied on he basis o he sou ce om which hey a e ob ained, physical p ope ies, s uc u es, c osslinking p esen , he ionic cha ge on bound g oups, p epa a ion me hods and s imuli gi en o p oduce a speci ic esponse. Based on he abo e, he classi ica ion o he hyd ogels a e shown in Figu e 3. Figu e 3. Classi ica ion o hyd ogel-based sys ems. 3. Polyme s Used o Fab ica ing Hyd ogel Na u al polyme s a e usually composed o componen s o p o eins and ex acellula ma ix o de i a i es o na u al ma e ials such as algina e, chi osan and skill ibe s which makes hem inhe en ly bioac i e, biodeg adable, biocompa ible, non oxic and p omo e many cellula unc ions o di e en biomedical applica ions. The wo d awbacks associ- a ed wi h na u al hyd ogels a e ha hey ha e poo mechanical p ope ies. Addi ionally, i is unclea abou he co ela ion be ween he mechanical p ope ies and polyme iza ion o gela ion condi ions. Fu he , hey o e di icul y in being manipula ed as hey ha e a high ba ch a ia ion ha may lead o poo ep oducibili y. In con as , syn he ic hyd ogels a e mo e ep oducible, al hough hei inal s uc u e can also depend on polyme iza ion condi- ions, demanding igo ous con ol o he p epa a ion p o ocol. So, i can be concluded ha syn he ic hyd ogels o e mo e lexibili y o al e ing chemical composi ion and mechani- cal p ope ies han na u al coun e pa s and a e mo e p e alen . A ew commonly used na u al and syn he ic polyme s o hyd ogels a e enlis ed in he ollowing Table 1[11,12]. Gels 2021,7, 207 6 o 32 Table 1. Polyme s commonly used in a ious hyd ogel o mula ions. Na u al Polyme Syn he ic Polyme Hyb id Polyme Hyalu onic acid PEG-PLA-PEG P (PEG-co-pep ides) Pec in PEG-PLGA-PEG P-(HPMA-g-pep ide) Alginic acid PEG-PCL-PEG P (PLGA-co-se ine) Ca ageenan PLA-PEG-PLA Algina e-g-(PEO-PPO-PEO) Chond oi in sulpha e PHB HA-g-NIPAAm Dex in sulpha e P (PEG/PBO e eph hala e) Collagen-n-ac yl a e Chi osan Polyu e hane Algina e-ac yl a e Polylysine Polyimide Collagen (and gela ine) Poly inylpy olidone Ca boxy me hylchi in Poly inyl alcohol Fib in and silk ib oin Polyac yla e Dex in Poly hene oxide Pullulan Polyme hac yla e Aga ose Elas in Glycosaminoglycans Decellula ized Hyd ogels 4. P ope ies o Hyd ogel I is impe a i e o ha e a basic unde s anding o he gel p ope ies so ha a sui able gel deli e y sys em can be designed. The in e ac ions be ween he gel and he solu e molecules can be be e unde s ood a e s udying he ollowing p ope ies. 4.1. Swelling Hyd ogels a e c osslinked mac omolecula polyme ic ne wo ks ha can swell in a liquid medium. The swelled polyme ac s as a il e which allows pa ial di usion o solu e molecules. The polyme ne wo k is able o e ain he sol en by o ming a gel and will no dissol e i c osslinked. The p esence o a hyd ophilic unc ional g oup a ached o he backbone and he di e ence in he osmo ic p essu e be ween he gel phase and he sol en phase is esponsible o wa e abso p ion by he hyd ogel. In hyd ogel, he p esence o wa e de e mines he o e all pe mea ion o nu ien s in and ou om he gel. The mo esponsi e hyd ogels a e one o he o he ca ego ies o hyd ogels ha ing high biomedical in e es . A oom empe a u e hese appea as luid bu con e in o iscous gel as hey ge exposed o he body empe a u e, which leng hens hei s aying ime, hence p olonging hei elease a e. They ha e he abili y o unde go phase ansi ion o swell/deswell a ambien al e a ion o empe a u e. Concen a e solu ion o poloxame wi h wa e is one good example o he mo e e sible gel widely used o issue enginee ing applica ions nowadays [ 13 , 14 ]. Fu he , he a e and deg ee o swelling, con ols he elease pa e ns o d ugs and sol en s om hyd ogel polyme ic ne wo ks. Resea che s use se e al me hods o de e mine he ela i e ee and bound wa e con en s wi h espec o o al wa e con en . I indica es he swelling p ope y o he hyd ogel. Some o he common echniques used o ou ine in es iga ion o wa e con en in hyd ogels a e: small molecula p obes, DSC and p o on NMR. Addi ionally, e alua ion o swelling p ope ies o he hyd ogel se es as a measu e o many o hei p ope ies such as mechanical p ope ies, deg ee o c osslinking, a e o deg ada ion and many mo e. E alua ion o he swelling and swollen s a e s abili y may help dis inguish be ween c osslinked gels and he non-c osslinked o iginal polyme [15,16]. 4.2. Mechanical P ope ies Gene ally, he mechanical p ope y o hyd ogel is linked o hei wa e con en s and c oss linking densi y. The s i ness o he gel can be inc eased by inc easing he deg ee o c osslinking o can be dec eased by hea ing he ma e ial. An ideal hyd ogel should be mechanically obus wi h apid di usion and esponse a e. The mechanical p ope ies can Gels 2021,7, 207 7 o 32 be changed by a wide ange o a iables and causes, so i should be analyzed based on he aim o he s udy, ypes o ma e ial and he condi ion, e c. The mechanical p ope ies o he hyd ogel can be de e mined by ex u e p o ile analyze o a heome e by calcula ing young modulus, Poisson modulus, s o age and loss moduli, e c. Cu en ly, mo e e o s ha e been made o cons uc hyd ogels wi h subs an ial mechanical pe o mance. Double-ne wo k, opological, nanocomposi e, mac omolecula mic osphe e composi e and sup amolecula hyd ogels a e among he success ul s a egies o ab ica ing high-s eng h hyd ogel. These a e p omising mul i unc ional ma e ials ha ing su icien and obus mechanical p ope ies ha can be used success ully as issue enginee ing sca olds. The deg ee o s i ness o he hyd ogel is de e mined based on i s applica ion a ea, i.e., whe e i has o be applied. Fo example, o seed os eoblas cells, a mo e igid ma e ial is equi ed han o cul u ing adipocy es [ 17 ]. Howe e , ma e ials cha ac e iza ion, ensile and comp essi e es s a e basic me hods o mechanical pe o mance e alua ion [18,19]. 4.3. Po osi y and Pe mea ion This is ano he impo an p ope y ha can simply indica e he p esence o a oid ca i y inside he bulk. The e may exis smalle po es wi hin he ne wo k o may be o med in hyd ogels du ing syn hesis (by phase sepa a ion). I is bene icial o con ol he po osi y o se e al applica ions, such as he unable elease o mac omolecules, op imal cell mig a ion in hyd ogel-based sca olds, e c. I has been ound ha po osi y is a signi ican ac o ha in luences he swelling and d ug elease beha io o he hyd ogels [ 20 ]. The p esence o a po ous s uc u e imp o es he d ug elease while non-po ous hyd ogels led o a e y slow elease. Addi ionally, he p esence o po es can help in sus ain elease d ugs o p olonged pe iods o ime [21]. Po osi y can be assessed by heo e ical me hods, such as liquid displacemen me hod, A chimedes me hod, e c., wi h he use o op ical and elec onic mic oscopy. Some o he me hods such as gas pycnome e me hod, gas adso p ion, capilla y low po osi y ha e also been epo ed. One o he o he impo an assays is X- ay mic o omog aphy [ 22 ]. Mic oscopy is ano he echnique ha can be used in assays in ol ing hyd ogels by which su ace mo phology and opog aphy can be assessed. I in ol es he use o op ical mi- c oscope, scanning elec on mic oscope (SEM), ansmission elec on mic oscope (TEM), unnelling mic oscope, a omic o ce mic oscopy (AFM) [ 23 ]. Addi ionally, he mopo ome- y helps o de e mine po e size based on mel ing o c ys alliza ion poin o wa e molecules con ined in o he po es o hyd ogels. I has ad an ages o e o he echniques, as i analyzes he sample in d ied s a e [ 24 – 26 ]. I is based on analyzing he he modynamic beha io o wa e ela ing o i s in e ac ion wi h polyme s and p o ide a ange o po e sizes in nano scale [27]. 4.4. C osslinking Al hough c osslinking is no a basic p ope y o hyd ogels, i a ec s all he o he ma e ial p ope ies. I has some impo an cha ac e is ics, as i makes he hyd ogel mechan- ically s ong, and hea and e osion esis an . I may in luence he heological pa ame e s, hyd a ion and di usion h ough skin [ 28 ]. The deg ee o c osslinking can be in e connec ed o e e y cha ac e is ic o a hyd ogel, howe e he na u e o c osslinking can a y a lo . The hyd ogel’s ne wo k can be ob ained in many di e en ways such as physical c osslinking (by complex coace a ion o ionic in e ac ion), chemical c osslinking ia c osslinke o by adia ion c osslinking. By egula ing he deg ee o c osslinking, we can con ol he p ope y o he ma e ial and can op imize i o nume ous applica ions om he same o iginal polyme [ 29 , 30 ]. Howe e , he e a e se e al disad an ages such as ela i ely in lexibili y in hei p ocessing p ope ies as hey a e insoluble and in usible [31]. 5. Me hod o P epa a ion Usually, hyd ogels a e p epa ed om hyd ophilic monome s, bu some imes hy- d ophobic monome s a e also used o achie e ce ain desi able a ibu es. Syn he ic Gels 2021,7, 207 8 o 32 polyme s a e hyd ophobic and used o p o ide mechanical s eng h and du abili y o he hyd ogels. The main componen s o ab ica e hyd ogels a e monome , c oss linke and ini ia o , along wi h wa e ha ac s as diluen o egula e he hea o he eac ion. C osslinking eac ions in hyd ogel can occu ia di e en me hods, such as u ilizing eac- ion and ionizing adia ion o p oduce ee adicals ha ecombine, c ea ing c oss-links, en anglemen s, elec os a ics, and c ys alline o ma ion. Hyd ogels a e de i ed om pola monome s and unde go c osslinking eac ions by linking polyme chains o o m ne wo ks. Such al e a ions can imp o e he mechanical p ope ies and iscoelas ici y o nume ous biomedical applica ions in he pha maceu ical ields. The gene al me hods o p oduce physical and chemical gels a e summa ized in Figu e 4[32]. Gels 2021, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 o 36 p ope ies and iscoelas ici y o nume ous biomedical applica ions in he pha maceu i- cal ields. The gene al me hods o p oduce physical and chemical gels a e summa ized in Figu e 4 [32]. Figu e 4. Di e en me hods o p epa a ion o hyd ogel. 6. Applica ions o Hyd ogel Due o i s e sa ili y and lexibili y, hyd ogel possesses di e si ied applica ions such as biomedical, ag icul u e, sani a y diape s, dyes emo al, hea y me al ions emo al, bi- osenso s, pH-senso s, and supe -capaci o s, e c. [33]. The ollowing sec ion includes bio- medical applica ions o hyd ogels in a eas o cosme ic echnology, wound healing, con ac lenses, d ug deli e y, and issue enginee ing, e c. [12,34]. Figu e 5 men ions he biomedi- cal applica ions o hyd ogel. Fu he , his sec ion includes a lis o pa en s and clinical ials (Tables 2 and 3) ela ed o a ious hyd ogel o mula ions, which gi e an idea abou he cu en esea ch conduc ed in his a ea. Table 2. Lis o Pa en o a ious hyd ogel o mula ion. S. No. Pa en No./Coun y Ti le Disease/P oblem De ails 1 US10799696B2 Uni ed S a es Polyme o mula ions o nasolac imal s im- ula ion D y eye The hyd ogel o mula ion (p epa ed by a UV c osslinking p ocess) pe mi s elec ical s imula- ion o he lac imal gland, nasal o sinus issue o ↑ p oduc ion o ea and o ea d y eye 2 US20200085733A1 Uni ed S a es Hypo onic hyd ogel o mula ions o en- hanced anspo o ac i e agen s a mu- cosal su aces Adminis e ed in o agina o colo ec um o diag- nos ic, p ophylac ic and he apeu ic pu pose An aqueous polyme ic hyd ogel (poloxame s) used as a ba ie by o ming plug and/o used o he deli e y o a mucosal/epi helial su ace o he apeu ic, p e en i e, diagnos ic o nu aceu ical pu pose 3 US20200114010A1 Uni ed S a es P Non-injec able hyd o- gel o mula ions o sma elease The o mula ion con ains an i-in lamma o ies, an i- in ec i es, o o he he a- peu ic, p ophylac ic, o diagnos ic agen s ha can be adminis e ed o ally o p oduce desi e ac ion A non-injec able o mula ion/ o mula ion o in- s illa ion, wi h sel -assembling hyd ogels de- signed o gela o s, in he o m o capsules, ab- le s, o al suspensions, ec al o aginal supposi- o ies, enemas, and inse s Figu e 4. Di e en me hods o p epa a ion o hyd ogel. 6. Applica ions o Hyd ogel Due o i s e sa ili y and lexibili y, hyd ogel possesses di e si ied applica ions such as biomedical, ag icul u e, sani a y diape s, dyes emo al, hea y me al ions emo al, biosenso s, pH-senso s, and supe -capaci o s, e c. [ 33 ]. The ollowing sec ion includes biomedical applica ions o hyd ogels in a eas o cosme ic echnology, wound healing, con ac lenses, d ug deli e y, and issue enginee ing, e c. [ 12 , 34 ]. Figu e 5men ions he biomedical applica ions o hyd ogel. Fu he , his sec ion includes a lis o pa en s and clinical ials (Tables 2and 3) ela ed o a ious hyd ogel o mula ions, which gi e an idea abou he cu en esea ch conduc ed in his a ea. Gels 2021,7, 207 9 o 32 Gels 2021, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 15 o 36 Figu e 5. Possible biomedical applica ions o hyd ogel. 6.1. Cosme ics Applica ions Skin is he la ges o gan ha ac s as a physical and chemical ba ie and p o ec s he body. F om he cosme ic poin o iew, skin is esponsible o ex e nal appea ance and is usually ea ed wi h cosme ic p epa a ions. Skin condi ion depends on se e al ac o s, among which hyd a ion o he skin is c i ical in main aining i s appea ance and ex u e [35]. When he skin ba ie is damaged, ei he due o clima ic condi ions and pollu ion o na u al ageing ( he gene ic ac o s and pho o-aging) i demands econdi ioning. Fo his pu pose, a ange o mois u ize s o e-es ablish he skin p ope ies and ba ie unc ions can be used. S a um co neum (uppe laye o he skin) can be ehyd a ed by h ee mech- anisms such as by using humec an s, occlusi e and hyd ophilic ma ices. Nowadays, hy- d ogel is widely exploi ed in he cosme ics indus ies due o p ope ies such as high wa e e en ion, biocompa ibili y, elas ici y and so ness [36]. These a e mainly employed o skin hyd a ion, w inkles, pigmen a ion, celluli e and ageing, e c. Cosme ically hese a e mainly applied opically on skin, hai , and also used in o al ca e. Bioadhesi e hyd ogels a e used o skinca e pu poses as hey ha e ad an ages, such as long esidence imes on he si e o applica ion which ul ima ely educes adminis a ion equency. Ac yla e-based hyd ogel, due o i s supe abso ben p ope ies, is highly exploi ed o p epa e hygiene p oduc s ha can abso b luids and keep mois u e away om he skin, p e en ing diape ash, p omo ing hygiene, and p o iding com o . 6.2. Wound D essings Human skin has a unique po en ial o sel - egene a ion, owing o his, skin de ec s can heal spon aneously bu i he de ec is measu ing mo e han a ce ain diame e , hen i equi es skin ansplan a ion. Mo eo e , he wound healing p ocess is impai ed in some pa ien s due o a ious condi ions ha lead o ch onic wounds, which ul ima ely esul in d as ic condi ions o e en mo ali y [37]. Hyd ogels a e he mos p omising app oach in wound healing amongs a ious wound d essings polyme ic ma e ials such as gauzes, Figu e 5. Possible biomedical applica ions o hyd ogel. Table 2. Lis o Pa en o a ious hyd ogel o mula ion. S. No. Pa en No./Coun y Ti le Disease/P oblem De ails 1US10799696B2 Uni ed S a es Polyme o mula ions o nasolac imal s imula ion D y eye The hyd ogel o mula ion (p epa ed by a UV c osslinking p ocess) pe mi s elec ical s imula ion o he lac imal gland, nasal o sinus issue o ↑ p oduc ion o ea and o ea d y eye 2US20200085733A1 Uni ed S a es Hypo onic hyd ogel o mula ions o enhanced anspo o ac i e agen s a mucosal su aces Adminis e ed in o agina o colo ec um o diagnos ic, p ophylac ic and he apeu ic pu pose An aqueous polyme ic hyd ogel (poloxame s) used as a ba ie by o ming plug and/o used o he deli e y o a mucosal/epi helial su ace o he apeu ic, p e en i e, diagnos ic o nu aceu ical pu pose 3US20200114010A1 Uni ed S a es Non-injec able hyd ogel o mula ions o sma elease The o mula ion con ains an i- in lamma o ies, an i-in ec i es, o o he he apeu ic, p ophylac ic, o diagnos ic agen s ha can be adminis e ed o ally o p oduce desi e ac ion A non-injec able o mula ion/ o mula ion o ins illa ion, wi h sel -assembling hyd ogels designed o gela o s, in he o m o capsules, able s, o al suspensions, ec al o aginal supposi o ies, enemas, and inse s 4US20180023049A1 Uni ed S a es Syn he ic pep ide hyd ogel o mula ions o use as ex acellula ma ix Cell cul u e expe imen a ion Syn he ic pep ide hyd ogel solu ions ha ing a pH le el o abou 3.5/< and ha ing a onici y wi hin an iso onic osmolali y ange 5US20200360281A1 Uni ed S a es A he mo- esponsi e hyd ogel o in e umo al adminis a ion as a ea men in solid umo cance s In a umo al ea men o solid cance Injec able he mo- esponsi e hyd ogel o ming a chi osan and genipin in e pene a ing sca old by c osslinking can e ec i ely inco po a e chemo he apeu ic d ugs wi hou any loss o he mo- esponsi eness Gels 2021,7, 207 16 o 32 inc eased ea men cos s; hus, limi ing hei clinical uses. Injec able hyd ogels can o e - come such disad an ages in biomedical applica ions wi h minimal in asi eness in o a ge si es. These hyd ogels can be exploi ed as a p omising and e icacious ma e ial sys em o many applica ions in he medical ield, such as ea men o cance s, in lamma o y and in ec ious diseases; deli e y o d ugs, cells, and bioac i e molecules and applica ions in he epai and egene a ion o issues such as skin, muscles, bone and ca ilage [ 48 ]. Table 4 enlis s a ious injec able hyd ogels wi h biomedical applica ions. Injec able hyd ogels in ol e he sol–gel ansi ion p oduced by c oss-linking. Fo solu ions o a polyme /monome wi h he apeu ic agen s ha ha e low iscosi y when adminis a ed o a desi ed si e in he body, a hyd ogel loaded wi h a he apeu ic agen can be o med by c osslinking eac ion ha has a compa a i ely highe iscosi y, called a gel s a e. The polyme s in he hyd ogel o m a c oss-link by chemical o physical in e ac ions which a e esponsible o phase ansi ion om solu ion o gel s a e. The sol- gel phase ansi ion is sensi i e o changes in pH, empe a u e, ligh , enzymes, ul asounds, e c. [ 49 – 51 ]. Physical c osslinking occu s due o elec os a ic ionic and hyd ogen bond in e ac ions, π -in e ac ions, hyd ophobic in e ac ions, Van de Waals o ces, e c. In con as , chemical c osslinking occu s due o Schi base eac ions, Diels-Alde eac ions, pho o polyme iza ions, Michael addi ions, enzyme-media ions, e c. Recen ly, he deli e y o chemo he apeu ics in he o m o injec able hyd ogels became a p omising al e na i e o cance / umo managemen wi h biocompa ibili y, enhanced d ug loading, p olonged and con olled d ug elease, wi h explici s imuli sensi i i y. Injec able hyd ogel can be used as a lexible ool o each some a eas ha canno be easily ouched by su ge y. Fu he mo e, hyd ogel can be used as a pla o m o issue epai ( issue enginee ing [ 52 – 54 ]) and p e en pos ope a i e umo ecu ence. Injec able biodeg adable hyd ogels ha can o m gels in si u ha e been widely u ilized o biomedical applica ions. Addi ionally, hese hyd ogels can be bio unc ionalized by a ge ing moie ies ha ha e an a ini y o o e exp essed and/o unique umo cell ma ke s o a ge ed d ug deli e y applica ions [55]. Hyd ogels ha e been used as a subs i u e o con en ional cance he apy, which is equen ly associa ed wi h a ious ac o s such as unwan ed oxici y o no mal issues, gigan ic issue loss, and unan icipa ed ecu ence du ing o a e he ea men . Localized d ug deli e y echniques (such as hyd ogels [ 56 ], liposomes, nano/mic opa icles [57–59] , micelles [8,60] o e localized sus ained elease o he chemo he apeu ic. I esul s in inc eased e icacy o he ea men wi h minimal issue oxici y by ci cum en ing sys emic ci cula ion o he chemo he apeu ic agen s. They u he acili a e high d ug loading, imp o e solubili y, and sus ain d ug elease a he desi e ea men loca ion. Se e al sys ems ha e been explo ed o his pu pose. The ollowing Figu e 6depic s an o e iew o injec able hyd ogel. Table 4. Lis o a ious injec able hyd ogels ha ing biomedical applica ions. Hyd ogel Ac i e Ing edien Type o Disease In Vi o Cell Line In Vi o Model Conclusion Re e ence The mosensi i e chi osan-based Disul i am(DSF) Cance Human HCC cell lines (SMMC-7721 cells) - A no el injec able sus ained o mula ion o an icance d ugs aimed a he deli e y o DSF o long- e m cance ea men [61] Dual he mo-and pH-sensi i e injec able hyd ogels o chi osan/(poly(N- isop opylac ylamide-co- i aconic acid) Doxo ubicin B eas cance MCF-7 cells - Cy ocompa ible and exe no/negligible cy o oxici y on MCF-7 cells and has he po en ial o local he apy o b eas cance [62] pH-sensi i e poly(lac ic acid-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(e hylene glycol)-b-poly(lac ic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) iblock copolyme s He cep in B eas cance - SK-BR-3 umo bea ing mice G ea po en ial o p e en ing he elapse o HER2+ b eas umo s a e b eas -conse ing su ge y wi h ↑ he apeu ic e icacy, ↓side e ec s and ↑ pa ien compliance [63] Gels 2021,7, 207 17 o 32 Table 4. Con . Hyd ogel Ac i e Ing edien Type o Disease In Vi o Cell Line In Vi o Model Conclusion Re e ence pH-sensi i e injec able- polysaccha ide-based sel -healing hyd ogels Doxo ubicin Hepa ocellula ca cinoma HepG2( elease o d ug om hyd ogel) L929 cells (Cy o oxici y es o he hyd ogel) - Sel -healing p ope y wi h high d ug-loading a io could p olong hei li e ime du ing implan a ion and p o ide he bene i o nominally in asi e su ge y [64] Dual pH- and empe a u e- esponsi e physically c osslinked injec able hyd ogel Cance Oncoly ic adeno i uses -Human xenog a umo models Exhibi ed ↑and long- e m an i umo he apeu ic e ec s in umo models and migh ha e po en ial o long- e m cance ea men [65] No el palladium nanoshee (Pd NS)-based chemo- pho o he malhyd ogel (Pd Gel) Palladium and doxo ubicin Cance - Mouse A no el an icance s a egy ha allows he elease o doxo ubicin mo e p ecisely, elimina e umo mo e e icien ly and inhibi umo me as asis mo e pe sis en ly [66] ABA iblock copolyme s o i amin D- unc ionalized polyca bona e and poly(e hylene glycol), ha is, VDm-PEG-VDm we e syn hesized and employed o o m physically c osslinked injec able hyd ogels Be acizumab; A as in Cance HCT116 xenog a mouse models Injec ion o he hyd ogel was e ec i e o show an ime as a ic ac i i y as ha o 4×weekly injec ions o A as in hus ↓ he injec ion equency and may ↑ pa ien compliance o ea me as a ic cance [67] pH- esponsi e injec able hyd ogels made o a sup amolecula c oss-link ne wo k doxo ubicin Cance L929 mouse ib oblas s - Showed biocompa ibili y, con olled elease p o iles and unable p ope ies which show a↑po en ial as a d ug- eleasing ma e ial o localized ea men s [68] T iblock Copolyme s o Vi amin E-Func ionalized Polyca bona e and Poly(e hylene glycol) He cep in B eas cance Human b eas cance cell lines (an i umo speci ici y and e icacy) BT474 umo - bea ing mice- (biocompa ibili y and biodeg ad- abili y) ↑po en ial o use in subcu aneous and sus ained deli e y o an ibodies o ↑ he apeu ic e icacy and/o ↑ pa ien compliance as compa ed o in a enous and subcu aneous deli e y o He cep in in solu ion o m [69] pH- esponsi e injec able hyd ogels wi h mucosal adhesi eness based on chi osan-g a ed- dihyd oca eic acid and oxidized pullulan Doxo ubicin Colon umo Colon umo cells (HCT116 cells) - Showed good d ug elease, e ec i ely killing colon umo cells, ideal candida es o de elopmen o colon cance d ug deli e y ca ie s /mucoadhesi e d ug deli e y sys ems [70] Algina e hyd ogel sys em Angiogenesis wi h ascula endo helial g ow h ac o (VEGF) Ca dio ascula diseases Human mic o ascula de mal endo he- lial cells Ac as a new gene a ion o he apeu ic deli e y ehicle by combining long- e m in i o he apeu ic ad an ages wi h minimal in asion o ea ca dio ascula diseases [71] Dual- esponsi e (pH and ROS) injec able hyd ogels encapsula ing d ug-loaded micelles Amikacin, andNap oxen Wound healing SD male a s Possess good biocompa ibili y wi h e icien an ibac e ial and an i-in lamma o y ac ion, ↑ he healing p ocess and p omising o be applied opically agains a ious mic obial in ec ions [72] Algina e–chi osan hyd ogels IgG model an ibodies and Fab an ibody agmen s Applica ions in d ug deli e y and egene a- i e medicine - - O e s con olled deli e y o an ibodies and an ibody agmen s and will be p omising o mula ion o se e al applica ions in d ug deli e y and egene a i e medicine [73] Dopamine-based and polydopamine c osslinked injec able hyd ogels Dopamine and me onidazole Pa kinson’s disease -mouse L929 ib oblas cells Can be used as long- e m, localized, sus ained elease injec able sys em o dopamine as well as an i-in lamma o y d ugs o ea Pa kinson [74] Co alen ly c osslinked composi e hyd ogel embedded wi h mic osphe es So issue enginee ing - - Can be exploi ed as a po en ial oppo uni y o use his injec able composi e gel sca old in p o ein deli e y and so issue enginee ing applica ions [75] Gels 2021,7, 207 18 o 32 Table 4. Con . Hyd ogel Ac i e Ing edien Type o Disease In Vi o Cell Line In Vi o Model Conclusion Re e ence Gela in-hyd oxyphenyl p opionic acid (G n-HPA) and hyalu onic acid- y amine (HA-Ty )-based hyd ogels Human epide mal g ow h ac o (hEGF) Oph halmic applica ions Hyd odynamic model, gi ing a no malized di usion and elease o hEGF and p o ide he mos sui able explana ion o he measu ed solu e di usion coe icien [76] Po ous algina e gels Pep ide an igen Immuno he apies - Nonobese diabe ic mouse model o ype 1 diabe es A nonin lamma o y bioma e ial sys em can gene a e an igen-speci ic, ha may enable he de elopmen o new he apies o ea ansplan ejec ion/au oimmune diseases [77] Sel -healing injec able micelle/hyd ogel composi es qua e nized chi osan (QCS) solu ion and benzaldehyde- e mina ed poly(e hylene oxide)-b-poly(p opylene oxide)-b-poly(e hylene oxide) (PEO99-b-PPO65-b- PEO99, Plu onic®F127 (PF127)) (PF127-CHO) solu ion Cu cumin Wound d essing o join s skin wound healing Female Kunming mice Sel -healing an ibac e ial adhesi e hyd ogels wi h good mechanical p ope y o e signi ican p omise as d essing ma e ials o join s skin wound healing [78] Algina e-gela in injec able hyd ogel Oligochi osan coa ed ce ium oxide nanopa icles Age- ela ed macula degene a ion Human e inal pigmen epi hlium-19 (ARPE-19) and umbilical endo helium - Biocompa ible and ha e ↑ po en ial in p o ec ing cells om angiogenesis, apop osis, and p oduc ion o p oin lamma o y cy okines wi h con olled d ug elease [79] Decellula ized injec able ca diac and skele al muscle ex acellula ma ix hyd ogel - Po en ial sca olds o issue egene a ion and/o epai o ea ing myoca dial in a c ion, hea ailu e and pe iphe al a e y disease - - Tissue speci ic bioma e ial he apies wi h minimal in asion [80] Polysaccha ide-based hyd ogels(N- ca boxye hyl chi osan and oxidized sodium algina e) Neu al s em cells deli e y Neu ological diso de s Neu al s em cells - Neu al s em cells ansplan a ion and managemen o neu ological diseases [81] Non-deg adable dend i ic polyglyce ol sul a e (dPGS) hyd ogel Dend i ic polyglyce ol sul a e Os eoa h i is - - Fo mula ion ha ing good iscoelas ic p ope ies and has he bene i o being much less easily displaced om i s injec ion si e [82] Conduc i e an i-oxidan hyd ogels (N- ca boxye hyl chi osan and oxidized hyalu onic acid-g a - aniline e ame Amoxicillin Wound d essing C2C12 myoblas cells (Cy ocompa ibili y) Esche ichia coli and S aphylococcus au- eus (An ibac e- ial ac i i y) Male Kunming mice Ha e good an ibac e ial, biodeg ada ion, elec oac i e and ee adical sca enging p ope y o e icien ly p e en he wound in ec ion and can be designed as an elec oac i e injec able hyd ogel wi h p omising applica ions [83] Injec able poly(e hylene glycol) (PEG)– gela in hyd ogel Mu ine adipose-de i ed s em cells Wound Healing and issue egene a ion -Mu ine wound healing model Signi ican ly ↑cell e en ion, ↑ angiogenesis, and ↑wound closu e and can be used o egula ing s em cell beha io s in 3D cul u e, deli e ing cells o wound healing and o he issue egene a ion applica ions [84] Polyplex Micelle-Loaded Injec able Hyd ogels Mic oRNA-29 In e e eb al disc degene a- ion(IDD) Rabbi s ( he a- peu ic e icacy on ib osis Inhibi ion) Sp ague-Dawley a s (In i o deli e y analysis) Success ully s op he exp ession o ma ix me allop o einases, p e en he ib osis p ocess and e e se IDD in animal models [85] Gels 2021,7, 207 19 o 32 Table 4. Con . Hyd ogel Ac i e Ing edien Type o Disease In Vi o Cell Line In Vi o Model Conclusion Re e ence Collagen–chi osan-based hyd ogel Thymosin β4, (a 43-amino acid pep ide) Myoca dial In a c ion Monolaye s o BHK-21 S imula e angiogenesis and epica dial hea cell mig a ion can be conside ed as a ca ie o o he nega i ely cha ged ac i e biomolecules and hus shows nume ous applica ions [86] Chi osan hyd ogel Human placen a-de i ed mesenchymal s em cell -de i ed exosomes Hindlimb Ischemia - Mu ine model Can ↑ he e en ion and s abili y o exosomes and u he ↑ he he apeu ic e ec s ha may acili a e he de elopmen o easy and e ec i e app oaches o assessing and enhancing he he apeu ic e ec s o s em cell-de i ed exosomes [87] Sus ained elease, he mosensi i e polyme ic [poly(lac ic acid-co-glycolic acid)-poly(e hylene glycol)-poly(lac ic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-PEG- PLGA)]hyd ogel A as in®Pos e io segmen diso de s - Ra A p omising candida e o ocula d ug deli e y o A as in® h ough in a i eal injec ion [88] Ca he e -injec able hyd ogel u ilizing a polyme –nanopa icle c osslinking mechanism -Va ious he apeu ic applica ions Wis a a s Biocompa ible, cell-signaling and can be di e en ially eleased wi h dis inc elu ion p o iles, allowing p ecise con ol o e d ug deli e y [89] Sel -healing hyd ogel based on chond oi in sul a e mul iple aldehyde and N-succinyl-chi osan Cells encapsula ed in he hyd ogel Cell ca ie and in issue enginee ing Ra model Shows biodeg adabili y, p oduced ↓in lamma o y esponse and ha ing po en ial applica ion as a cell ca ie and in issue enginee ing. [90] Physiological empe a u e- esponsi e con ollable NO- eleasing edox injec able hyd ogel Ni ic oxide(NO) Ca dio ascula diseases - Mice Signi ican ly ↑ he angiogenesis and new blood essels o ma ion by egula ing he sus ained elease o NO and edox equilib ium in animal model. I has a ↑po en ial in p e en ing and ea ing diseases [91] Gels 2021, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 22 o 36 Figu e 6. An o e iew o a ious aspec s o injec able hyd ogels. 6.4. Tissue Enginee ing and Regene a i e Medicine Tissue enginee ing is a biomedical enginee ing discipline ha e e s o he p ac ice o combining biologically ac i e molecules, cells, and sca olds in o unc ional issues. The main objec i e o issue enginee ing is o accumula e biological subs i u es ha es o e, epai , main ain, o imp o e inju ed issues o whole o gans. The sca old esembles he ex acellula ma ix composed o po ous s uc u e esponsible o supply o nu ien s, cell g ow h and was e emo al and hus aids issue egene a ion. In addi ion, he sca olds should possess he desi ed quali y a ibu es such as biocompa ibili y, biodeg adabili y, mechanical s eng h and he abili y o be s e ilized. These cha ac e is ics a e necessa y o p o iding s uc u al suppo o he cell and help in he p ocess o cell g ow h and di e - en ia ion [92]. Regene a i e medicine is a b oad ield whe e he body uses i s own sys ems, occa- sionally wi h help o eign biological ma e ial o econs uc cells and es uc u e issues and o gans. The e ms “ issue enginee ing” and “ egene a i e medicine” can be used in- e changeably, as he ield ocuses on cu es ins ead o ea men s o complex, o en ch onic diseases [34]. Al hough hese a eas cu en ly play a ela i ely small ole inpa ien ’s ea men due o lack o ep oducibili y and high cos bu ha e a g ea e pe spec i e in he ield o d ug de elopmen o sc een di e en medica ions. Cu en ly, hese a e used in he egene a ion o ca diac issues, ca ilage, and bone [93]. Hyd ogels ep esen a la ge class o ma e ials ha can unc ion as issue enginee ing o ab ica e biocompa ible and biodeg adable cell sca olds [94,95]. P ope ies o hyd ogels such as s uc u al simila i ies o na u al ex acel- lula ma ix, delicacy and lexibili y akin o so issue and abili y o injec easily inside he body o o m i egula non lowing gels a e made i use ul as a sca old ma e ial in issue enginee ing. The abili y o he hyd ogel o show elec ical conduc i i y also plays an ex- cellen ole in issue enginee ing [96]. Lyophiliza ion, pho oli hog aphy, mic o luidic, mi- c o molding, emulsi ica ion, sol en cas ing—leaching, gas oaming—leaching, and 3D p in ing a e some app oaches o he p oduc ion o hyd ogel sca old [97]. Figu e 6. An o e iew o a ious aspec s o injec able hyd ogels. Gels 2021,7, 207 20 o 32 6.4. Tissue Enginee ing and Regene a i e Medicine Tissue enginee ing is a biomedical enginee ing discipline ha e e s o he p ac ice o combining biologically ac i e molecules, cells, and sca olds in o unc ional issues. The main objec i e o issue enginee ing is o accumula e biological subs i u es ha es o e, epai , main ain, o imp o e inju ed issues o whole o gans. The sca old esembles he ex acellula ma ix composed o po ous s uc u e esponsible o supply o nu ien s, cell g ow h and was e emo al and hus aids issue egene a ion. In addi ion, he sca olds should possess he desi ed quali y a ibu es such as biocompa ibili y, biodeg adabili y, mechanical s eng h and he abili y o be s e ilized. These cha ac e is ics a e necessa y o p o iding s uc u al suppo o he cell and help in he p ocess o cell g ow h and di e en ia ion [92]. Regene a i e medicine is a b oad ield whe e he body uses i s own sys ems, occa- sionally wi h help o eign biological ma e ial o econs uc cells and es uc u e issues and o gans. The e ms “ issue enginee ing” and “ egene a i e medicine” can be used in e changeably, as he ield ocuses on cu es ins ead o ea men s o complex, o en ch onic diseases [34]. Al hough hese a eas cu en ly play a ela i ely small ole inpa ien ’s ea men due o lack o ep oducibili y and high cos bu ha e a g ea e pe spec i e in he ield o d ug de elopmen o sc een di e en medica ions. Cu en ly, hese a e used in he egene a ion o ca diac issues, ca ilage, and bone [ 93 ]. Hyd ogels ep esen a la ge class o ma e ials ha can unc ion as issue enginee ing o ab ica e biocompa ible and biodeg adable cell sca olds [ 94 , 95 ]. P ope ies o hyd ogels such as s uc u al simila i ies o na u al ex acellula ma ix, delicacy and lexibili y akin o so issue and abili y o injec easily inside he body o o m i egula non lowing gels a e made i use ul as a sca old ma e ial in issue enginee ing. The abili y o he hyd ogel o show elec ical conduc i i y also plays an excellen ole in issue enginee ing [ 96 ]. Lyophiliza ion, pho oli hog aphy, mic o luidic, mic o molding, emulsi ica ion, sol en cas ing—leaching, gas oaming—leaching, and 3D p in ing a e some app oaches o he p oduc ion o hyd ogel sca old [97]. 6.5. O he Applica ions 6.5.1. Hyd ogel Machines The unique p ope ies o hyd ogels, make hem sui able candida e o ab ica ing di e en hyd ogel machines o biomedical applica ions such as senso s, ac ua o s, op ics, coa ings, elec onics, e c. [ 98 , 99 ]. The basic equi emen o his is he obus ness o he hyd ogels in e ms o mechanical pe o mance and unc ionali y o ensu e he s able ope a- ion o hyd ogel machines. Recen inno a ions in he design o ough hyd ogels [100,101] , ough adhesion o hyd ogels o o he enginee ing ma e ials, and ad anced ab ica ion me hods o hyd ogels [ 102 ] ha e made hyd ogels a p omising ma e ial candida e o he nex -gene a ion machines [99]. 6.5.2. Biosenso A senso can be de ined as a machine o pa o i ha de ec s and esponds o signals in he en i onmen s [ 103 ]. Con en ional senso s, (elec onic senso s and elec ochemi- cal senso s) con e en i onmen al inpu s o elec ical ou pu s based on semiconduc o s and/o me allic elec odes; whe eas, hyd ogel senso s a e based on exclusi e cha ac e - is ics o hyd ogels, such as high wa e con en , s imuli- esponsi eness, high compliance, and high pe meabili y o a wide ange o molecules. They can be classi ied in o wo ypes: (a) s imuli- esponsi e hyd ogels ( ha can exhibi acco ding o en i onmen al in- pu s) [104,105] ; and (b) passi e hyd ogels (as ma ices o hos esponsi e subs ances such as ee ions, nanopa icles, biomolecules, and li ing cells, e c. ha espond o en i onmen al inpu s). Hyd ogel senso s a e becoming p ac ical ools o di e se applica ions including poin -o -ca e de ec ion, medical diagnos ics, and en i onmen al moni o ing, e c. [105]. Gels 2021,7, 207 21 o 32 6.5.3. Ac ua o An ac ua o can be de ined as a machine o a pa o i ha con e s o he o ms o ene gy in o mechanical ene gy o p oduce o ces and mo ions. Con en ional ac ua o s adap ed o mechanical sys ems usually con ain me als and ce amics, and hei ac ua ion usually depends on ela i ely small de o ma ions o he igid ma e ials [ 106 ]. Whe eas hyd ogel ac ua o s p o ide mechanical mo ions commonly d i en by ela i ely la ge de o ma ions o he hyd ogels [ 107 ]. Hyd ogel ac ua o s can be di ided in o h ee ypes such as (a) s imuli- esponsi e hyd ogels d i en by osmo ic p essu e change; (b) hyd ogels ma ices inco po a ing ac i e elemen s (such as magne ic pa icles o ee ions) in esponse o a ying ex e nal ields (such as magne ic o elec ic ields); and (c) hyd ogel s uc u es wi h chambe s. 6.5.4. Coa ings In he human body, many issues and o gans a e co e ed wi h hyd ogel coa ings, esul ing in ex emely slippe y selec i ely pe meable su aces. Fo example, a icula ca ilage on bones p o ides a lub ica ed su ace o smoo h join mo emen [ 108 ]. Simila ly, when igid machines such as o hopedic implan s, neu al p obes, ca diac slee es, glucose senso s, needles, ca he e s, ul asound ansduce s, and elec odes o elec oencephalo- g am, elec omyog am, elec oca diog am, and anscu aneous elec ical ne e s imula ion come in o di ec con ac wi h he human body, hyd ogel coa ings can po en ially p o ide a biocompa ible in e ace wi h minimal mechanical misma ch and o eign body esponses. In o de o coa hyd ogels on enginee ing ma e ials, including me als, ce amics, glass, and elas ome s, adhesion needs o o m be ween he hyd ogels and enginee ing ma e- ials. Acco ding o di e en mechanisms o hyd ogel adhesion, we classi y hyd ogel coa ings in o ou ypes: (a) physical a ached [ 109 ] (b) co alen ancho ed (c) in e acially in e pene a ed, and (d) mechanically in e locked [110] hyd ogel coa ings. 6.5.5. Op ics Ligh and op ical echniques ha e ound pa icula impo ance in diagnosis, imaging, su ge y, he apy, and many o he biological ypes o esea ch. Hyd ogels is an ideal ma e ial o op ic de ices due o he abo e-discussed uniqueness, especially o hose in close con ac wi h biological o ganisms. The e a e wo ac o s such as high anspa ency (low ligh abso p ion and sca e ing) and high e ac i e index (low bending loss) on which he e ec i eness o hyd ogel op ics depends. Acco ding o hei applica ions, he e a e ou ep esen a i e ypes o hyd ogel op ics de eloped so a , including (a) oph halmic lenses [ 111 ], (b) sma windows and displays, (c) op ical ibe s [ 112 ], and (d) bioassay ma ices [113]. Con ac lenses a e delica e oph halmic ools ha ge di ec con ac wi h he eyes and a e used o co ec he ision, o cosme ic use impa ing aes he ic e ec s and o deli e he ac i e cons i uen s o oph halmic condi ions [ 114 ]. Biocompa ibili y and pe meabili y a e wo key p ope ies o be conside ed du ing design besides com o , pe meable o ions o main aining mo emen , con inuous ea ilm o clea ision, non-i i able and esis ance o ea ilm accumula ion. Co nea needs oxygen o i s p ope unc ioning and he e o e oxygen pe meabili y is essen ial. Oxygen pe meabili y is a e y impo an p ope y [115]. P incipally he e a e wo ypes o con ac lenses, as igid and so con ac lens. Rigid con ac lenses a e ypically made up o polyme hyl me hac yla e polyme s which gi es i p ope ies such as we abili y, elas ici y and du abili y bu lack o oxygen pe meabili y. Howe e a so o hyd ogel (poly(2-hyd oxye hyl me hac yla e) c osslinked wi h e hylene glycol dime hac yla e o silicone [ 116 ] ha ing p ope ies such as he abili y o pe mea e wa e and oxygen wi h ela i ely high wa e con en and good he mal and chemical s abili y [ 117 ]. They ha e he po en ial o assis in he ea men o a ious eye diseases, which is he eason why hyd ogels a e highly exploi ed as an impo an aw ma e ial o p epa ing con ac lenses [118]. Gels 2021,7, 207 22 o 32 6.5.6. Hyd ogel Elec onics Due o hei simila i ies o biological issues and e sa ili y in elec ical, mechani- cal, and bi unc ional enginee ing, hyd ogels ha e ecen ly a ac ed g owing a en ion in bioelec onics o po en ially p o ide a seamless in e ace be ween biology and elec on- ics. Hyd ogels a e gene ally conside ed elec ical insula o s due o he absence o mobile cha ges o cha ge ca ie s. The elec ical conduc i i y o hyd ogels in he physiologically el- e an condi ions is simila o ha o issue media, and much in e io o common elec onic conduc o s such as me als, limi ing hei applica ions in elec onics [ 119 ]. To o e come such limi a ion and enable he possibili y o hyd ogel elec onics o imp o ed issue-elec ode in e aces, a ew s a egies ha e been de eloped o enhance he elec ical conduc i i y o hyd ogels, including (a) he addi ion o ionic sal s in he hyd ogels o achie e ionically conduc i e hyd ogels (b) inco po a ion o elec ically conduc i e mic o-and nano-ma e ials wi hin hyd ogel ma ices o endow elec onic conduc i i y [ 120 , 121 ], and (c) in oduc ion o conduc ing polyme s in o hyd ogels o enhance elec onic conduc i i y [122,123]. The Table 5depic s a ious comme cially a ailable hyd ogel p oduc s wi h hei espec i e indica ions which gi e an idea abou he applicabili y o hyd ogel in a ious ield and pa e he way o u u e esea ch. Table 5. Comme cially a ailable hyd ogel p oduc . S.No. P oduc P oduc Manu ac u ed by/Ma ke ed by Type o Hyd ogel Ac i e Componen Indica ions Re e ence 1 AquaDe m™ De maRi e Hyd ogel shee 2-Ac ylamido-2 me hyl-1 p opane sul onic acid sodium, P opylene Glycol, Poly (e hylene glycol) dime hac yla e, 2-Hyd oxy-2- me hylp opiophenone wi h 38–55% wa e Mino bu ns, p essu e ulce s and adia ion issue damage [124] 2De maSynTM Amo phous hyd ogel Acu e/ch onic pa ial and ull hickness wounds/ulce s ha ing minimal exuda e 3 De maGauze™ Hyd ogel imp egna ed gauze d essing Ac yla e polyme Acu e/ch onic pa ial and ull hickness wounds ha ing minimal exuda e and wounds wi h unneling o sinus ac s 4 De maSyn/Ag™ Wa e -based an ibac e ial sil e Wound gel Sil e Venous ulce s, issue auma, p essu e ulce s, diabe ic ulce s, su gical incisions The mal bu ns, e c. 5In asi e®GEL Smi h and Nephew Hyd ogel Ca boxyme hyl cellulose and p opylene glycol Ease gen le, e ec i e au oly ic deb idemen o p epa e he wound bed in all ypes o wounds [125] 6Sup aso b®GLohmann and Rausche Global Hyd ogel ilm Wa e (70%), ac ylic polyme s based on a au a e de i a i e, polye hylene, phenoxye hanol, anspa en polye hylene ca ie ilm Used o he managemen o he i s and second deg ee bu ns, d y ac u es, ulce o he lowe leg, p essu e ulce , e c. [126] 7Neoheal®Kikgel Hyd ogel shee Wa e (90%), poly inylopy olidone, polye hylene glycol and aga , c osslinked by a beam o elec ons. Bu ns, ulce a ions, bedso es and all ypes o skin damages whe e humid medium is a ou able [127] 8Woun’D es®Collagen Hyd ogel Coloplas Collagen Hyd ogel Polyme s such as ca bome and collagen D y wounds and escha [128] 9Pu ilon®Wa e , calcium algina e and sodium ca boxyme hyl cellulose Fi s and second deg ee bu ns, leg ulce s, p essu e ulce s, non-in ec ed diabe ic oo ulce s 10 Simpu i y® Sa e n’Simple Abso ben hyd ogel shee s wa e , polye hylene oxide, poly inyl alcohol, ac yla e, polyu e hane Wounds wi h minimal o no exuda e, skin bu ns and d y scabs [129] 11 Simpu i yHyd oGel®Imp egna ed Gauze Wound D essings Fi s and second deg ee bu ns, p essu e so es and leg ulce s Gels 2021,7, 207 23 o 32 Table 5. Con . S.No. P oduc P oduc Manu ac u ed by/Ma ke ed by Type o Hyd ogel Ac i e Componen Indica ions Re e ence 12 P o iDe m®D . De m P o essional Hyd ocollagen ace gel Sea collagen and hyalu onic acid Nou ishes, hyd a es, soo hes skin, helps o egene a e he skin o he ace, ↑ he elas ici y and ones he issues [130] 13 Ad anced géni ique ligh pea l hyd ogel mel ing 360 eye mask Lancome Pa is Hyd ogel eye mask ↓ he appea ance o unde eye bags, pu y eyes, unde eye ci cles and eju ena e he eye a ea [131] 14 Ad anced géni ique hyd ogel mel ing shee mask Hyd ogel shee mask Wa e , glyce ine, polyac yla e-13, bi idus ex ac Mois u ized ace skin, and make i adian , smoo he , shiny and heal hy [132] 15 Wa e bomb hyd ogel mask Mo ia Hyd ogel mask Sodium polyac yla e, glyce ine, cellulose gum, wa e Res o e hyd a ion a a deepe le el, soo hesand eju ena e he skin [133] 16 Eau aSil™ Miaca e™ Silicone Hyd ogel Con ac Lens Hyalu onic Acid and Sodium Algina e E ec i ely p e en hypoxia- ela ed complica ions (co neal neo ascula iza ion, edness, and co neal epi helium-aging) [134] 17 Con idence Silicone Hyd ogel Con ac Lens wi h Do Ma ix Colou P in ing Technology Hyalu onic Acid and Sodium Algina e Long las ing com o [135] 18 Cha coal Hyd ogel unde eye mask ELF cosme ics Hyd ogel mask Cha coal Powde , G een Tea Ex ac , La ende Ex ac Unde eye skin p o ec ion and eju ena ion [136] 19 SEVEN RX®Ma k’enno y Hyd ogel lens Bioinspi ed silicone hyd ogel lens Sho sigh and long sigh [137, 138] 20 Gen le 59 Ma k’enno y Bio-inspi ed hyd ogel lens Sho sigh and long sigh [137] 21 Max ueHiTo ic®Max ue ision Silicone hyd ogel Hyalu onic Acid As igma ism [137] 22 ACTIVHEAL®HYDROGEL Ad anced medical solu ion L d. Amo phous gel A p ima y wound d essing con ains 85% wa e D y and sloughy wounds wi h ze o o low exuda e such as p essu e ulce s, leg ulce s, ca i y wounds, g a a dono si es, pos op su gical wounds, lace a ions and ab asions [139] 23 Nu-Gel®Hyd ogel wi h Algina e Sys agenix wound managemen Hyd ogel wi h algina e Algina e Helps in managemen o ch onic wounds h ough all s ages o healing. Manage d y, enc us ed and nec o ic, sloughy, g anula ing andepi helialising wounds. [140] 24 SUPPRELIN®LA Endo Pha maceu icals, USA Implan His elin ace a e T ea men o child en ha ing cen al p ecocious pube y [141] 25 Ce idil®Fe ing Pha maceu icals, Inc. Ce idil (dinop os one) Vaginal Inse c osslinked polye hylene oxide/u e hane polyme , dinop os one Ini ia ion and/o con inua ion o ce ical ma u emen in p egnan women [142] 26 SQZgel™ Mac oMed Con olled- elease o al able s chi osan and polye hylene glycol Hype ension [143] 27 Mebiol®Gel Cosmo Bio co l d The mo e e sible hyd ogel poly(N- isop opylac ylamide) and poly(e hylene glycol) High anspa ency o cell obse a ion, s em cell cul u e, cell implan a ion, o gan/ issue egene a ion, d ug deli e y, and non-cell cul u e applica ions [144] 28 Gel in C™ Regen is Bioma e ial L d. Pho o c osslinked hyd ogel polye hylene glycol and human ib inogen p o ein p ojec ed o he epa a ion o ocal de ec s in ca ilage and/o os eochond al de ec s [145] 29 Mebiol®Gel Cosmo Bio The mo e e sible Hyd ogel Poly (N- isop opylac ylamide) and POLY glycol e hylene Cell implan a ion, o gan and issue egene a ion, s em cell cul u e, d ug deli e y, and non-cell cul u e applica ions [146] 30 HyS em®Hyd ogel ESI BIO Hyalu onic acid UV ligh -con olled sys em hyalu onic acid 3D cell cul u e o issue enginee ing pu poses and 3D p in ing applica ions [147] Gels 2021,7, 207 24 o 32 Table 5. Con . S.No. P oduc P oduc Manu ac u ed by/Ma ke ed by Type o Hyd ogel Ac i e Componen Indica ions Re e ence 31 Co ning® Pu aMa ix™ Co ning Inco po a ed Li e sciences Pep ide hyd ogel - 3D cell cul u e used o s em cell p oli e a ion, umo cell mig a ion and in asion, and in i o analysis o issue egene a ion [148] 32 Biogelx™ Bioglex L d. Simple, sho sel -assembling pep ides - C ea e an op imal en i onmen o he cul u e o a a ie y o cell ypes, deli e syn he ic ye biologically- ele an al e na i es o animal-de i ed 3D ma ices o example ma igel and collagen [149] 33 SpaceOAR®Bos on scien i ic Abso bable Injec able hyd ogel - Imaging o cance ous cells and p o ec ing heal hy cells om adia ion induced damage [150] 34 Bulkamid®Con u a In e na ional So injec able, anspa en , hyd ophilic gel Syn he ic polyac ylamide and wa e S ess u ina y incon inence [151] 35 Symphony®Cyp e’s S imuli– esponsi e hyd ogels as senso s 3D pho oli hog aphic ins umen Animal cell cul u e, 3D imaging, iPSCs, ESc cell lines, e c. [152] 36 Valleylab™ Med onic Co alen ancho ed coa ings Chi osan-hyalu onic acid-based hyd ogel ca he e Pos ope a i e adhesion [153] 37 Bol Bis-T is Plus Gels The mo Fishe Bioassay ma ices(gel) Polyac ylamide gels Wes e n blo ans e and analysis [154] 38 Tadpole™ Ne ena®Hyd ogel elec ode Ionically conduc i e hyd ogels Use in Pa o idec omy and o ologic Su ge y 7. Regula o y Aspec s o Hyd ogel and I s Componen s The di e si ied aw ma e ials employed o de elop hyd ogel sca olds make hei eg- ula o y a angemen and app o al challenging. Unlike d ugs which a e b oadly classi ied, hyd ogels a e classi ied unde he “de ices” ca ego y acco ding o Sec ion 201(g) o he FD&C Ac . Fu he mo e, o he han a ew excep ions, mos hyd ogel-based p oduc s a e equi ed o unde go addi ional FDA e iew o a 510(k) p e-ma ke no i ica ion submission o ob aining legal ma ke ing igh s in he Uni ed S a es, which akes many yea s o ge egula o y app o al. Howe e , acco ding o he new Eu opean egula ion, hyd ogels a e conside ed as medical de ice class III, and i should be aken in o conside a ion h oughou he en i e li ecycle o he hyd ogel, s a ing om he ma e ial and machine quali ica ion o scale-up. Table 6enlis s some egula o y in o ma ion o hyd ogel ing edien s used o he manu ac u ing o hyd ogels. The commission egula ion (EU) N0 722/2012 o 8 Augus 2012, conce ning pa icula equi emen s as ega ds he equi emen s laid down in Council Di ec i es 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC. These we e conce ning ac i e implan able medical de ices and medical de ices manu ac u ed u ilizing issues o animal o igin, has adop ed a egula ion based on: The o iginal equi emen s, he main enance o a high le el o sa e y and heal h p o ec ion agains he isk o ansmi ing animal spongi o m encephalopa hies. The egula ion also conside s ha class III’s ac i e implan able medical de ices and medical de ices a e subjec o he con o mi y assessmen p ocedu es be o e being placed on he ma ke o pu in o se ice, demanding he adop ion o mo e de ailed speci ica ions ela ing o he isk analysis and managemen . The egula ion es ablishes pa icula equi emen s conce ning he placing on he ma ke and/o pu ing in o se ice o medical de ices, including ac i e implan able medical de ices, manu ac u ed u ilizing animal issue and hei de i a i es, o igina ing om bo ine, o ine and cap ine species, dee , elk, mink and ca s. In he case o collagen, gela in and allow used o he manu ac u ing o medical de ices hey shall mee a leas he equi emen s as i o human consump ion. The egula ion also es ablishes ha Gels 2021,7, 207 25 o 32 he manu ac u e o medical de ices o his au ho ized ep esen a i e shall ca y ou he isk analysis and isk managemen scheme be o e applying a con o mi y assessmen . The membe s a es shall e i y ha bodies ha e up- o-da e knowledge o he medical de ices o assess he con o mi y o hose de ices, and shall ake all necessa y s eps o ensu e ha medical de ices a e placed on he ma ke and/o pu in o se ice only i hey comply wi h he cu en p o isions and he pa icula equi emen s laid down in his egula ion. Con o mi y assessmen p ocedu es o medical de ices shall include he e alua ion o compliance o he de ices wi h he essen ial equi emen s in o he cu en di ec i es and he pa icula equi emen s laid down in his egula ion. The manu ac u e shall collec , e alua e and submi o he no i ied body in o ma ion conce ning changes ega ding he animal issue o de i a i es used o he de ice o ega ding he isk o he de ice. Two new Eu opean Heal h P oduc s Regula ions came in o o ce on 26 May 2017. The i s one, he Regula ion (EU) 2017/745 o medical de ices, which modi ies Di- ec i e 2001/83/EC and subsequen de i ed egula ions, epealing Council Di ec i es 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC, had been applied om 26 May 2020. The second one, Regu- la ion (EU) 2017/746 o in i o medical de ices, which epeals bo h Di ec i e 98/78/EC and he commission 2010/227/EU decision, will apply om 26 May 2022. These new egula ions ep esen an impe a i e change in he medical de ices ield and will necessi a e s ingen obliga ions o all ma ke ope a o s, which esul s in an inc ease in anspa ency and aceabili y gua an ees o he p oduc u he leading o sa e y and eliabili y [ 155 , 156 ]. As hyd ogels a e conside ed a medical de ice class III by he new Eu opean egula ion, his egula ion mus be conside ed no only in he scale-up p ocess bu also in he ini ial phases o he ma e ial’s and he machine’s in en ion. The egula ion also conside s ha he ac i e implan able medical de ices and medical de ices o class III a e subjec o he con o mi y assessmen p ocedu es be o e being placed on he ma ke o pu in o se ice, demanding he adop ion o mo e de ailed speci ica ions ela ing o he isk analysis and managemen . I is also conside ed o he elabo a ion o he egula ion, he con enience o laying down addi ional p o isions on he use o animal by-p oduc s no in ended o human consump ion, he adop ion o se e al opinions on speci ied isk ma e ials and on minimizing he isk o ansmi ing animal spongi o m encephalopa hy agen s. The egula ion conside s ha i is app op ia e o he membe s a es o e i y ha he no i ied bodies, designa ed o assess he con o mi y o hose medical de ices, ha e all he necessa y expe ise and up- o-da e knowledge o pe o m his ask. The pe iod o sc u iny g an ed o he compe en au ho i ies o he membe s a es conce ning he no i ied bodies. The summa y e alua ion epo should be sho e o medical de ices manu ac u ed using s a ing ce i ied ma e ials han in cases whe e unce i ied ma e ials a e used. The egula ion also bases i s decisions on he con enience o he p o ision o an adequa e ansi ional pe iod allowing o ac i e implan able medical de ices al eady co e ed by an EC design-examina ion ce i ica e o by an EC ype-examina ion ce i ica e o con inue o be placed on he ma ke and pu in o se ice, and ha he measu es p o ided o in his egula ion a e in acco dance wi h he opinion o he Commi ee on Medical De ice [157]. Gels 2021,7, 207 32 o 32 134. Silicone Hyd ogel Con ac Lens (Daily). A ailable online: h ps://www.miaca e.com/weben/h ml/p oduc /show.aspx?num=27 (accessed on 19 June 2021). 135. CONFiDENCE (Daily)—Black/B own/Viole . A ailable online: h ps://www.miaca e.com/weben/h ml/p oduc /show.aspx? num=29 (accessed on 28 June 2021). 136. Cha coal Hyd ogel Unde Eye Masks. 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