Gelatin-Based Hydrogels

Abstract

Hydrogels are crosslinked polymers that are able to absorb large amount of water, permit solutes within their swollen matrices, and provide sustained delivery of absorbed solutes. The use of various types of functional biopolymers as scaffold materials in hydrogels has become of great interest not only as an underutilized resource but also as a new functional material of high potential in various fields. Among them, gelatin has been considered as highly potential candidate to be utilized as hydrogel component because of its hydration properties such as swelling and solubility; gelling behavior such as gel formation, texturizing, thickening, and water-binding capacity; and surface behavior like emulsion and foam formation, stabilization, adhesion and cohesion, protective colloid function, and film-forming capacity. In addition, its properties of biocompatibility, low toxicity, antimicrobial activity, and biodegradability make it suitable for diversified biomedical applications. Many works have been reported in various scientifically reputable journals and publications worldwide that seem to have potential or satisfactory contribution of gelatin-based hydrogels. Numerous fields of application of gelatin hydrogels include, not limited to, usage as safer release system in agrochemicals, nutrient carriers for plants, drug and cell carrying devices, bioadhesives, wound healing, tissue engineering, etc. The purpose of this chapter is to compile the recent information on developments in gelatin-based hydrogel preparation, as well as new processing conditions and potential novel or improved applications.