A Review of Patents and Innovative Biopolymer-Based Hydrogels

Biopolymers represent a great resource for the development and utilization of new functional materials due to their particular advantages such as biocompatibility, biodegradability non-toxicity. “Intelligent gels” sensitive different stimuli (temperature, pH, ionic strength) have applications in many industries (e.g., pharmacy, biomedicine, food). This review summarizes research efforts presented patent non-patent literature. A discussion was conducted regarding biopolymer-based hydrogels natural proteins (i.e., fibrin, silk fibroin, collagen, keratin, gelatin) polysaccharides chitosan, hyaluronic acid, cellulose, carrageenan, alginate). In this analysis, latest advances modification characterization advanced biopolymeric formulations state-of-the-art administration drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering regenerative medicine were addressed.