Applications and Perspectives of Hydrogels in Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Technology transfer is an important demand for the development of veterinary medicine, and interdisciplinarity is of great significance in promoting the development of veterinary medicine. In recent years, as the star in the field of material science, hydrogel preparations have been widely used in biomedical fields and made a series of progress. Notable examples include wound management, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. However, the application of hydrogels in veterinary medicine is relatively rare, and therefore, only a few related studies have been reported. This paper reviews the classification, preparation materials, and methods of hydrogels, providing an overview of the current research status in the veterinary field. It further analyzes the potential applications of hydrogels in this area. Firstly, hydrogels demonstrate superior moisturizing properties, adequate mechanical strength, and appropriate surface microstructure and biochemical characteristics compared to traditional animal wound dressings, promoting the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of epidermal cells. Secondly, in the field of drug delivery, based on its unique structure and function, hydrogels have promising applications in animals for transdermal, oral and rectal mucosal administration. Lastly, in the field of animal tissue engineering, hydrogels have become a focal point of research due to their controllable physical and chemical properties, as well as their highly biomimetic characteristics that resemble the extracellular matrix of natural tissues. This review aims to enhance veterinary scholars' fundamental understanding of the advantages and applications of hydrogels and to elucidate potential future applications, thereby inspiring new research directions for the use of hydrogels in veterinary medicine.