Recent advancements in enzyme-mediated crosslinkable hydrogels: <i>In vivo</i>-mimicking strategies
Wonmoon Song, Junghyeon Ko, Young Hwan Choi, Nathaniel S. Hwang
Abstract
Enzymes play a central role in fundamental biological processes and have been traditionally used to trigger various processes. In recent years, enzymes have been used to tune biomaterial responses and modify the chemical structures at desired sites. These chemical modifications have allowed the fabrication of various hydrogels for tissue engineering and therapeutic applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the use of enzymes for hydrogel fabrication. Strategies to enhance the enzyme function and improve biocompatibility are described. In addition, we describe future opportunities and challenges for the production of enzyme-mediated crosslinkable hydrogels.