Polyphenol-based hydrogels: Pyramid evolution from crosslinked structures to biomedical applications and the reverse design

• Published in: Bioactive materials 2022-11, Vol.17, p.49-70
• Main Authors: Li, Zimu, Chen, Zhidong, Chen, Hongzhong, Chen, Kebing, Tao, Wei, Ouyang, Xiao-kun, Mei, Lin, Zeng, Xiaowei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesive hydrogels; Biomaterials; Disease treatment; Polyphenol; Reverse design
• ISSN: 2452-199X; 2452-199X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.01.038

As a kind of nature-derived bioactive materials, polyphenol-based hydrogels possess many unique and outstanding properties such as adhesion, toughness, and self-healing due to their specific crosslinking structures, which have been widely used in biomedical fields including wound healing, antitumor, treatment of motor system injury, digestive system disease, oculopathy, and bioelectronics. In this review, starting with the classification of common polyphenol-based hydrogels, the pyramid evolution process of polyphenol-based hydrogels from crosslinking structures to derived properties and then to biomedical applications is elaborated, as well as the efficient reverse design considerations of polyphenol-based hydrogel systems are proposed. Finally, the existing problems and development prospects of these hydrogel materials are discussed. It is hoped that the unique perspective of the review can promote further innovation and breakthroughs of polyphenol-based hydrogels in the future. [Display omitted] •Polyphenol-based hydrogels combine advantages of polyphenols with common hydrogels.•Cognition of such hydrogels underwent from structures to properties to applications.•Various crosslinked structures of such hydrogels can derive outstanding properties.•Such hydrogels can be widely used in biomedicine due to the outstanding properties.•Reverse design thought from applications to properties to structures is promising.