Engineering Adhesive Hydrogels for Hemostasis and Vascular Repair
Juya Jeon, Shri Venkatesh Subramani, Kok Zhi Lee, Santiago Elizondo Benedetto, Mohamed A. Zayed, Fuzhong Zhang
Abstract
Adhesive hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and strong adhesion to wet, dynamic tissues have emerged as promising materials for tissue repair, with potential applications in wound closure, hemorrhage control, and surgical adhesives. This review highlights the key design principles, material classifications, and recent advances in adhesive hydrogels designed for vascular repair. The limitations of existing adhesive hydrogels, including insufficient mechanical durability, suboptimal biocompatibility, and challenges in targeted delivery, are critically evaluated. Furthermore, innovative strategies-such as incorporating self-healing capabilities, developing stimuli-responsive systems, integrating functional nanocomposites, and employing advanced fabrication techniques like 3D bioprinting-are discussed to enhance adhesion, mechanical stability, and vascular tissue regeneration. While significant progress has been made, further research and optimization are necessary to advance these materials toward clinical translation, offering a versatile and minimally invasive alternative to traditional vascular repair techniques.