Functional Hydrogel Interfaces for Cartilage and Bone Regeneration

Recent developments in the creation of functional interface hydrogels are highlighted in this review, followed by a discussion of the difficulties in creating functional hydrogel materials without compromising their intrinsic qualities and possible uses in bone and cartilage repair. Multifunctional hydrogel interface materials can be a key component of bone tissue engineering.

Abstract

Effective treatment of bone diseases is quite tricky due to the unique nature of bone tissue and the complexity of the bone repair process. In combination with biological materials, cells and biological factors can provide a highly effective and safe treatment strategy for bone repair and regeneration, especially based on these multifunctional hydrogel interface materials. However, itis still a challenge to formulate hydrogel materials with fascinating properties (e.g., biological activity, controllable biodegradability, mechanical strength, excellent cell/tissue adhesion, and controllable release properties) for their clinical applications in complex bone repair processes. In this review, we will highlight recent advances in developing functional interface hydrogels. We then discuss the barriers to  producing of functional hydrogel materials without sacrificing their inherent properties, and potential applications in cartilage and bone repair are discussed. Multifunctional hydrogel interface materials can serve as a fundamental building block for bone tissue engineering.