Hydrogels in Tissue Engineering

Hydrogels are the foundation of regenerative medicine as a supportive matrix for cell immobilization and growth factor delivery. The fate of implanted cells is mediated by cell-matrix interaction at multiple scales and timed-release of growth factors to guide the differentiation and maturation of cells. Recently there has been great interest in hydrogels with a hierarchical structure that mimics the complex interaction of cells with a microenvironment that can locally release growth factors to specific cells. Related topics in this Special Issue include hydrogels with a hierarchical structure; hybrid degradable and load-bearing hydrogels; hydrogels for cell encapsulation micro-patterning microfluidic devices biofabrication and high-throughput screening; and hydrogels that modulate the bodys immune response.