Bionanocomposite hydrogels for regenerative medicine and biomedical applications

Over the past few years, technological advances in the field of biomedical engineering have provided regenerative medicine with a powerful stimulus for higher efficacy. Tissue engineering and fabrication of biofunctional assemblies have enabled a better revitalization of damaged organs and tissues due to injury or underlying medical conditions changing the face of healthcare platforms. These assemblies include biomimetics, bioactives, and biosimilars for regeneration and therapeutics. Hydrogels are primarily used as tissue engineering scaffolds owing to their unique structural and mechanical properties, which aid in repair and stimulation of indigenous extracellular milieu. Recently, the incorporation of nanoparticles has been explored for aiding the targeted drug delivery within tissues by utilizing the matrix of the polymeric hydrogel as a vehicle. A variety of nanocomposite hydrogels of superior quality can be fabricated by using polymeric-, ceramic-, organic-, or metal-based nanomaterials for a wide range of pharmaceutical, regenerative, and biomedical applications. In this chapter, we have focused on the designing, fabrication, and applications of contemporary and advanced nanocomposite hydrogels with respect to the current as well as the future healthcare scenarios. Also, we discussed the allied potential advantages and limitations.