JOURNAL OF FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, Vol 27, No 1 (2023)

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A state-of-the-art review on Fabrication and Characterization of Biopolymer-based Hydrogels

Shumaila Fayyaz, Ariba Farooq, Muhammad Atif, Sarfaraz Khan, Sayyad Muhammad, Aymen Javed

Abstract


Hydrogels, three-dimensional networks gifted with capability of retaining large amounts of water despite of sustaining structural integrity, have arisen as versatile ingredients with applications in biomedicine, agriculture, and environmental science. This study relies on the fabrication and comprehensive characterization of hydrogels based on biopolymers, particularly aiming to explore their potential in various fields. The synthesis of hydrogels includes blending of biopolymers, like naturally occurring and manmade polymers, proteins, polysaccharides, or their derivatives, with crosslinking agents to form hydrogel matrices. These matrices advise a biocompatible and environmentally friendly substitute to synthesized hydrogels. The fabrication of biopolymers is initiated after systematic investigation of different preparatory parameters like biopolymer type, concentration, and crosslinking density. A multidimensional analysis of newly prepared hydrogels was carried by swelling studies, FTIR, SEM, GC, HPLC, NMR, DSC, AFM TGA and MS. Swelling studies exhibit equilibrium water absorption and reactivity of hydrogels to external stimuli, like pH and temperature variations. Mechanical tests elucidate viscoelastic features of the hydrogels, including compressive and tensile strength, revealing their potential for load-bearing applications. In addition, the microstructure of the hydrogels is investigated using methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which sheds insight on their porosity, pore size distribution, and surface shape. Cell viability and proliferation studies used in biocompatibility testing show that hydrogels are fit for biomedical uses. Drug release experiments suggest that these hydrogels have the potential to be used as drug delivery vehicles with customizable release kinetics.


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Faculty of Engineering and Technology

University of the Punjab

Lahore-54590-Pakistan