Granular hydrogels for endogenous tissue repair.

ABSTRACT

Granular hydrogels, formed by the packing of hydrogel microparticles (microgels), are emerging to support the endogenous repair of injured tissues by guiding local cell behavior. In contrast to traditional pre-formed scaffolds and bulk hydrogels, granular hydrogels offer exciting features such as injectability, inherent porosity, and the potential delivery of biologics. Further, granular hydrogel design allows for the tuning of constituent microgel properties and the mixing of discrete microgel populations. This modularity allows the creation of multifunctional granular hydrogels that promote cell recruitment, guide extracellular matrix deposition, and stimulate tissue growth to drive endogenous repair.