REPORT DESCRIPTION
Medical Grade Hydrogel Market – Overview
Hydrogel are hydrophilic, three dimensional, and cross-linked polymer chain, which has property to absorb
different fluids. They resemble body tissue with respect to their ability to absorb large amount of water. The
property to absorb different types of the fluid makes hydrogel suitable for many medical applications. As
human body consist of large amount of water, therefore hydrogels are highly biocompatible and can be
used as carrier for many active ingredients. Being biodegradable, hydrogels are harmless as compared to
other polymers. Hydrogels such as polysaccharides and polypeptides are of natural origin, whereas
artificial hydrogels include N-isopropyl acrylamide and Jeffamine M-1000 acrylamide. Artificial hydrogels
carries superior mechanical strength, longer shelf life, and larger capacity to absorb water. This hydrogels
are based on the type of material from which they originate, shows varying response to pH, temperature,
light, and different chemicals. The pH responsive hydrogels possess chemical/physical properties at
specific pH. Gastric targeted drug such as small intestine, stomach, and colon targeted drug delivery system
has been under development specifically for chronic conditions such as colon and stomach cancer. Cell
modelling is conducted to mimic GI tract cell, based on pH characteristics. Light responsive hydrogels can
be used in gene delivery, drug delivery, and biomedical sensors.