Zwitterionic Hydrogels: From Synthetic Design to Biomedical Applications
Linran Gao, Andrew Varley, Hui Gao, Bowen Li, Xiaohui Li
Abstract
Zwitterionic hydrogels have emerged as a highly promising class of biomaterials, attracting considerable attention due to their unique properties and diverse biomedical applications. Zwitterionic moieties, with their balanced positive and negative charges, endow hydrogels with exceptional hydration, resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption, and low immunogenicity due to their distinctive molecular structure. These properties facilitate various biomedical applications, such as medical device coatings, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biosensing. This review explores the structure-property relationships in zwitterionic hydrogels, highlighting recent advances in their design principles, synthesis methods, structural characteristics, and biomedical applications. To meet the evolving and growing demand for the biomedical field, this review examines current challenges and explores future research directions for optimizing the multifunctional properties of zwitterionic hydrogels. As promising candidates for advanced biomaterials, zwitterionic hydrogels are poised to address critical challenges in biomedical applications, paving the way for improved therapeutic outcomes and broader applicability in healthcare.