A Smart Material in Nanotechnology and Bioengineering: Nanogels

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Nanogels are chemically or physically crosslinked three-dimensional hydrophilic polymer networks. Due to their relatively high drug encapsulation capacities, large surface areas, homogeneity, adjustable sizes, ease of preparation, minimal toxicity, and stability, they are promising and innovative materials for next-generation drug delivery systems. They can be prepared with natural or synthetic polymers, and polysaccharides are attractive and promising biomaterials for nanogel preparation due to their abundance in nature and low cost. Their ability to be prepared in response to environmental stimuli, such as temperature, pH, ionic strength, electric, and magnetic fields, significantly enhances their potential. Moreover, these nanogels have potential as nanomaterials for various biomedical applications, including cancer treatment, anti-inflammatory therapy, drug delivery systems, biological imaging, detection of bioactive small molecules, cell behavior analysis, three dimensional cell culture, bone tissue regeneration, wound /healing, and more. This review provides a brief overview of nanogels in general, nanogel synthesis, release mechanism, polysaccharide-based nanogels and their development in potential application areas.