ABSTRACT
Injectable in situ hydrogel systems are highly desirable clinically as they can be introduced into a body via a minimally invasive surgical approach. Several hydrophilic polymeric systems that respond to stimuli such as light, temperature, pH, ionic concentration as well as those that can undergo chemical reactions to form crosslinked matrices are currently under development. This overview discusses the application of hydrogels as scaffolds to mimic the native extracellular matrix of bone and cartilage. A comprehensive description of various gelation methods used in hydrogel synthesis, the important design considerations, their application as injectable delivery vehicle for bone and cartilage regeneration and a perspective outlook of challenges and future directions are also presented.
