Regenerative medicine: Hydrogels and mesoporous silica nanoparticles
Jesús L. Pablos, Daniel Lozano, Miguel Manzano, María Vallet‐Regí
Abstract
Hydrogels, that are crosslinked polymer networks, can absorb huge quantities of water and/or biological fluids. Their physical properties, such as elasticity and soft tissue, together with their biocompatibility and biodegradability, closely resemble living tissues. The versatility of hydrogels has fuelled their application in various fields, such as agriculture, biomaterials, the food industry, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Their combination with nanoparticles, specifically with Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNs), have elevated these composites to the next level, since MSNs could improve the hydrogel mechanical properties, their ability to encapsulate and controlled release great amounts of different therapeutic agents, and their responsiveness to a variety of external and internal stimuli. In this review, the main features of both MSNs and hydrogels are introduced, followed by the discussion of different hydrogels-MSNs structures and an overview of their use in different applications, such as drug delivery technologies and tissue engineering. • Hydrogels are flexible, soft, biodegradable, and biocompatible, making them ideal for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. • Clinical use of hydrogels is often restricted by poor mechanical properties and limited control over biodegradation and drug release. • Combining hydrogels with nanoparticles, especially Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNs), presents a promising alternative. • This combination enhances mechanical properties, improves drug encapsulation and release, and increases responsiveness to stimuli. • Hybrid hydrogels enable localized therapy with improved biocompatibility and protection for nanocarriers.