Repository logo
 

Albumin-based hydrogels for regenerative engineering and cell transplantation.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Justin, Alexander W 

Abstract

Albumin, the most abundant plasma protein in mammals, is a versatile and easily obtainable biomaterial. It is pH and temperature responsive, dissolvable in high concentrations and gels readily in defined conditions. This versatility, together with its inexpensiveness and biocompatibility, makes albumin an attractive biomaterial for biomedical research and therapeutics. So far, clinical research in albumin has centered mainly on its use as a carrier molecule or nanoparticle to improve drug pharmacokinetics and delivery to target sites. In contrast, research in albumin-based hydrogels is less established albeit growing in interest over recent years. In this minireview, we report current literature and critically discuss the synthesis, mechanical properties, biological effects and uses, biodegradability and cost of albumin hydrogels as a xeno-free, customizable, and transplantable construct for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Description

Keywords

crosslinking, hydrogel, regenerative medicine, serum albumin, stem cells, tissue engineering, Albumins, Animals, Cell Transplantation, Drug Carriers, Humans, Hydrogels, Nanoparticles, Regenerative Medicine

Journal Title

Biotechnol Bioeng

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0006-3592
1097-0290

Volume Title

116

Publisher

Wiley

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Isaac Newton Trust (18.07i(c))
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N509620/1)
EPSRC Isaac Newton Trust Rosetrees Trust