Inspired by the responsiveness of natural systems to their surrounding environments, researchers have sought to understand these biological processes and to develop functional stimuli-responsive polymeric systems for a wide range of applications such as drug delivery, imaging, and regenerative medicine. Both synthetic polymers and biopolymers have been studied and incorporated into assemblies of different morphologies as well as hydrogels with diverse shapes and dimensions. This special issue highlights recent research advances in this area, as well as exciting challenges to be tackled in the upcoming years.

• MeSH
• biopolymery chemie   MeSH
• chytré polymery * chemie   MeSH
• hydrogely * chemie   MeSH
• lékové transportní systémy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polymery * chemie   MeSH
• regenerativní lékařství MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• úvodní články MeSH
• úvodníky MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biopolymery MeSH
• chytré polymery * MeSH
• hydrogely * MeSH
• polymery * MeSH

There has been growing interest in polymeric systems that break down or undergo property changes in response to stimuli. Such polymers can play important roles in biological systems, where they can be used to control the release of therapeutics, modulate imaging signals, actuate movement, or direct the growth of cells. In this Perspective, after discussing the most important stimuli relevant to biological applications, we will present a selection of recent exciting developments. The growing importance of stimuli-responsive polysaccharides will be discussed, followed by a variety of stimuli-responsive polymeric systems for the delivery of small molecule drugs and nucleic acids. Switchable polymers for the emerging area of therapeutic response measurement in theranostics will be described. Then, the diverse functions that can be achieved using hydrogels cross-linked covalently, as well as by various dynamic approaches will be presented. Finally, we will discuss some of the challenges and future perspectives for the field.

• MeSH
• chytré polymery * chemie   MeSH
• hydrogely * chemie   MeSH
• lékové transportní systémy metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polymery chemie   MeSH
• polysacharidy chemie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chytré polymery * MeSH
• hydrogely * MeSH
• polymery MeSH
• polysacharidy MeSH

Periodontitis is a globally prevalent chronic inflammatory disease that leads to periodontal pocket formation and eventually destroys tooth-supporting structures. Hence, the drastic increase in dental implants for periodontitis has become a severe clinical issue. Injectable hydrogel based on extracellular matrix (ECM) is highly biocompatible and tissue-regenerative with tailor-made mechanical properties and high payload capacity for in situ delivery of bioactive molecules to treat periodontitis. This therapeutic tool not only enhances the drug release efficiency and treatment efficacy but also reduces operation time. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to optimize the mechanical properties and intelligent control drug release rate of injectable hydrogels to achieve the highest therapeutic outcome. Literature precedent has shown the modulation of polymer backbones (synthetic polymers, natural polysaccharides, and proteins), crosslinking strategies, other bioactive constituents, and potentially the incorporation of nanomaterials that overall improve the desirable physiochemical and biological performances as well as biodegradability. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the development, design, and material characterizations of common injectable hydrogels. Furthermore, we highlight cutting-edge representative examples of polysaccharide-, protein- and nanocomposite-based hydrogels that mediate regenerative factors and anti-inflammatory drugs for periodontal regeneration. Finally, we express our perspectives on potential challenges and future development of multifunctional injectable hydrogels for periodontitis.

• Klíčová slova
• Injectable hydrogel, Local drug delivery system, Periodontal regeneration, Periodontitis, Tissue engineering,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Today, with the salient advancements of modern and smart technologies related to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TE-RM), the use of sustainable and biodegradable materials with biocompatibility and cost-effective advantages have been investigated more than before. Alginate as a naturally occurring anionic polymer can be obtained from brown seaweed to develop a wide variety of composites for TE, drug delivery, wound healing, and cancer therapy. This sustainable and renewable biomaterial displays several fascinating properties such as high biocompatibility, low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and mild gelation by inserting divalent cations (e.g., Ca2+). In this context, challenges still exist in relation to the low solubility and high viscosity of high-molecular weight alginate, high density of intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonding, polyelectrolyte nature of the aqueous solution, and a lack of suitable organic solvents. Herein, TE-RM applications of alginate-based materials are deliberated, focusing on current trends, important challenges, and future prospects.

• Klíčová slova
• alginate, biomaterials, biomedical engineering, hydrogels, regenerative medicine, scaffolds, tissue engineering,
• MeSH
• algináty terapeutické užití   MeSH
• biokompatibilní materiály * terapeutické užití   MeSH
• hydrogely MeSH
• regenerativní lékařství MeSH
• tkáňové inženýrství * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• algináty MeSH
• biokompatibilní materiály * MeSH
• hydrogely MeSH