For a number of biomedical applications, including cell therapy and tissue engineering, there is an increasing need to engineer advanced three-dimensional (3D) polymeric scaffolds to provide structural and mechanical support for cells and guide tissue regeneration. Engineering injectable biomaterials have become a promising approach for scaffold implantation into the body while avoiding open surgery and postoperative complications. To that end, we have recently unveiled a breakthrough technology for the delivery via conventional needle–syringe injection of large preformed macroporous hydrogels called cryogels with well-defined properties. These injectable cryogels in the form of elastic sponge-like matrices are prepared by an environmentally friendly gelation at subzero temperatures of water-soluble polymers. The process of cryogelation occurs via phase separation with ice crystal formation, cross-linking of polymers and monomers within a non-frozen liquid microphase, and thawing of ice crystals used as porogens. This process results in the formation of a macroporous cryogel network with a set of unique properties, including syringe-injectability, shape-memory properties, and complete geometric restoration once introduced in the body. Ice-templated cryogels displaying an interconnected structure can be molded to a variety of shapes and sizes and may be optionally loaded with therapeutic agents or cells. These advanced cryogels with unique features have created a new class of injectable biomaterials and have been leveraged for various applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, cell transplantation, cancer immunotherapy, and more recently COVID-19 vaccine research and development.

Engineering injectable polymeric cryogels for biomedical applications

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ACS Fall 2022

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