Hydrogel for Aesthetic Medicine
The properties of hydrogels, such as their biocompatibility, elasticity, softness, and high moisture content, have caught the attention of aesthetic medicine. The field of aesthetic medicine is dedicated to improving individuals' appearance through minimally invasive or non-invasive procedures.
Introduction to Aesthetic Medicine
Aesthetic Medicine is currently extensively employed in clinical settings for procedures such as enhancing and
reconstructing breasts, substituting skin, promoting wound healing, reconstructing ears, as well as grafting bone,
cartilage, and nerves. Future advancements in Aesthetic Medicine will primarily focus on the advancement of
vascularized constructs and intricately designed scaffolds, the utilization of stem cells to regenerate organs and
tissues, and the exploration of gene therapy.
Utilization of Hydrogel for Aesthetic Medicine
Hydrogels are a type of polymer network that has a strong affinity for water. Initially, they can be found in the form of a thick liquid, which makes them suitable for injection into specific areas or shaping into desired forms using molds. The process of solidification occurs by cross-linking. Due to their exceptional ability to attract and retain water, hydrogels have a final structure with an extremely high moisture content. Once cross-linked, hydrogels typically possess flexible and malleable properties.
- Hydrogel-based Bone Tissue Engineering
The utilization of hydrogel in bone tissue engineering offers numerous advantages.
- The utilization of hydrogel systems offers numerous advantages to fulfill the specific requirements in bone tissue reconstruction.
- More biocompatibility and non-immunogenicity compared to the traditional materials that avoid inflammatory responses.
- Appropriate pore size and interconnected porosity supporting cell infiltration, adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation.
- As an ideal delivery carrier of bioactive factors, antibacterial agents, and nanoparticles may enhance therapeutic effects, such as osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and anti-infection.
- The controllable degradability is synchronized with the rapid bone ingrowth, eliminating the need for a second removal surgery.
- Injectability supports minimally invasive surgery, simplifying the administration process and meeting the purpose of aesthetic restoration of structures.
- Various methods are available for improving structural stability and mechanical strength which meet the demands of load-bearing defects.
- Easy modification suggests that it can be implanted either independently or in combination.
Fig. 1 Hydrogel system-based mandibular reconstruction by 3D bioprinting. (Guo J, et
al., 2022)
- Hydrogel-based Fillers for Soft Tissue Repair
The presence of soft tissue abnormalities, resulting from either injury or illness, offers an opportunity for the application of hydrogels as substances to enhance and replace soft tissues. These hydrogels can serve both to restore the structural integrity and substitute damaged or lost tissue. Naturally derived substances, such as adipose tissue, collagens, and other extractable components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), have various applications including facial augmentation and soft tissue reconstruction.
- Hydrogel-based Cosmetic Applications
The hydrogel demonstrates the potential to address a spectrum of dermatological concerns, including cellulite, wrinkles, pigmentation issues, skin hydration, and signs of aging. Specifically formulated for cosmetic purposes targeting cellulite or gynoid lipodystrophy, the bio-adhesive hydrogel infused with caffeine exhibits remarkable attributes by gradually releasing caffeine into the skin to enhance its overall appearance and texture.
The Hydrogel Development Services We Provide
With professional equipment and experienced specialists, Matexcel provides high-quality chitosan-based hydrogel development services, alginate-based hydrogel development services, peptide/protein-based hydrogel development services, and hydrogel analysis and characterization services. Please contact us for more information.
References
- Guo J.; et al. Advanced Hydrogel systems for mandibular reconstruction. Bioact Mater. 2022;21:175-193.
- O'Halloran NA.; et al. Hydrogels in adipose tissue engineering-Potential application in post-mastectomy breast regeneration. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2018;12(12):2234-2247.