Biomedical Hydrogels: Biochemistry, Manufacture and Medical Applications

Hydrogels are very important for biomedical applications because they can be chemically manipulated to alter and control the hydrogel’s interaction with cells and tissues. Their flexibility and high water content is similar to that of natural tissue, making them extremely suitable for biomaterials applications. "Biomedical hydrogels" explores the diverse range and use of hydrogels, focusing on processing methods and novel applications in the field of implants and prostheses.

Part one of this book concentrates on the processing of hydrogels, covering hydrogel swelling behaviour, superabsorbent cellulose-based hydrogels and regulation of novel hydrogel products, as well as chapters focusing on the structure and properties of hydrogels and different fabrication technologies. Part two covers existing and novel applications of hydrogels, including chapters on spinal disc and cartilage replacement implants, hydrogels for ophthalmic prostheses and hydrogels for wound healing applications.  The last chapter addresses the role of hydrogels in imaging implants in situ.

Steve Rimmer is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Sheffield University.

Hydrogel swelling behaviour and its biomedical applications, H Holback, Y Yeo and K Park, Purdue University, USA; Superabsorbent cellulose-based hydrogels for biomedical applications, 

L Ambrosio, National Research Council, Italy and C Demitri and A Sannino, University of Salento, Italy; Synthesis of hydrogels - control of structure and properties, S Rimmer, University of Sheffield, UK; Processing and fabrication technologies for biomedical hydrogels, G McGuinness, N E Vrana and Y Liu, Dublin City University, Ireland; Regulation of novel biomedical hydrogel products,

M E Donawa , Donawa Lifescience Consulting, Italy 

Part 2 Applications of Hydrogels

Spinal disc implants using hydrogels, A Borzacchiello, A Gloria and L Ambrosio; Hydrogels for intraocular lenses and other ophthalmic prostheses, M A Reilly and N. Ravi, Washington University and K E Swindle-Reilly, St Louis University, USA; Cartilage replacement implants using hydrogels,

G Leone, University of Siena, Italy; Hydrogels for wound healing applications, B Gupta and R Agarwal, IIT Delhi and M S Alam, Jamia Hamdard, India; Imaging hydrogel implants in situ, 

J Patterson, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland