Recent advancement and applications of green hydrogels: Revolutionizing biomedicine and environmental sustainability
Sundaram Khare, Samit Kumar, Priya Urmaliya, Shailendra Yadav
Abstract
Environmentally benign hydrogels can be termed as green hydrogels. They can be prepared by utilizing biopolymers, synthetic polymers and semi synthetic polymers as basic materials. These are emerging as sustainable alternatives to conventional synthetic hydrogels due to their non toxic nature, biodegradability and biocompatibility. Their eco-friendly nature has made them highly attractive for biomedical applications, including drug delivery, wound healing and tissue engineering as well as in field of agriculture and in environmental remediation. Green hydrogels reduce dependence on non-renewable resources and minimize environmental impact and thus making them an ideal class of materials for future technologies. In spite of eco-friendly nature of green hydrogels they are facing challenges related to their weak mechanical strength, stability under physiological conditions, scalability and cost effective production. Emerging strategies to address these limitations include hybrid hydrogels that blend natural and synthetic polymers, nanotechnology-assisted structural tuning, and advanced fabrication techniques such as 3D and 4D printing. These innovations allow precise control over hydrogel architecture, porosity, and adaptability, enhancing their biomedical potential. Green hydrogels represent a transformative platform for next-generation biomaterials. By integrating sustainability, functionality, and safety, they offer promising pathways for advancing regenerative medicine, personalized drug delivery, and environmentally responsible material design. This review provides their classification, preparation strategies, and a concise overview of recent research, with emphasis on their emerging biomedical and healthcare applications. • Hydrogels play significant role in drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. • Enhance biocompatibility and controlled release of desired drug. • Effective in water purification and soil remediation. • Offering sustainable alternatives for environmental cleanup.