Collagen Hydrogel in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

Short Abstract: In the field of controlled release technology and tissue engineering, extensive research and innovations based on collagen have been conducted extensively, resulted into various excellent collagen-based biomaterials in the form of films, membranes and shields, injectable gel, particles, or composites for cell and gene therapy, drug delivery, hemostatic apparatus, tissue engineering scaffolds, wound dressing, or many others. Intensive research and innovations on the collagen biomaterials are conducted due to their physical and mechanical properties, such as strong swollen structural networks, high loading capacity to drugs and biomolecules, and controlled release capability. Besides, collagen native features in the human body also make it more acceptable to be implanted in vivo. This chapter provides comprehensive understanding on the fundamental basis in the designs, preparations, synthesis and fabrications, cross-linking methods, improvement of microstructural properties and binding abilities to bioactive molecules, modification on its tunable swelling, degradation, and release properties, as well as its valorization and translation to clinics. Original Abstract for the Book: In the field of controlled release technology and tissue engineering, extensive research and innovations based on collagen have been conducted, resulted into various excellent collagen-based biomaterials in the form of films, membranes and shields, injectable gel, particles, or composites for cell and gene therapy, drug delivery, hemostatic apparatus, tissue engineering scaffolds, wound dressing, or many others. Intensive research and innovations on the collagen biomaterials are conducted due to their physical and mechanical properties, such as strong swollen structural networks, high loading capacity to drugs and biomolecules, and controlled release capability. Besides, collagen native features in the human body also make it more acceptable to be implanted in vivo. Regardless collagen hydrogel superior properties, comprehensive understanding about collagen and hydrogel technology is crucial as a fundamental basis in the designs, preparations, synthesis and fabrications, cross-linking methods, improvement of microstructural properties and binding abilities to bioactive molecules, modification on its tunable swelling, degradation, and release properties, as well as in its valorization and translation to clinics. This chapter provides comprehensive understanding on collagen hydrogel technology applied in drug delivery and tissue engineering fields and in biomedical areas in general.