Biological function following radical photo-polymerization of biomedical polymers and surrounding tissues: Design considerations and cellular risk factors

Radical photo-cross-linking of polymers has been at the forefront in development biomedical applications to meet many biomaterial design criteria needed address clinical and healthcare challenges, particularly relation regenerative restorative medicine strategies, treat damaged or diseased tissues organs. Exciting new hybrid designs, elegantly expanding range properties available individual polymeric materials, are starting offer detailed customization with complex dynamic interactions similar events occurring within native tissue microenvironments vivo. Yet variety success reported literature highlights unknown parameters affecting functional restoration The applied light curing units radical initiating system, as well underlying chemical reactions resultant network structures, all require consideration means modulate biological function while further being assessed sources toxicity. This is especially important when cells embedded material (or surrounding tissues) directly exposed photo-irradiation. Ultimately, achieving successful translation necessitates photo-polymerization platforms be efficacious, safe, customizable but also convenient for use cost-effective production. review thus aims summarize current emerging toolkits photo-polymerize requiring direct irradiation and/or mammalian its associated impact on functionality. specifically includes (1) vitro cell-laden 3D-hydrogels engineering regeneration applications, (2) vivo transdermal injectable hydrogels cell/drug delivery, (3) cell-free, resin-based composites load-bearing surgery, fast-growing highly competitive fields modern medicine. We herein both considerations risk factors selecting suitable sources, photo-initiators, groups, propagation, how subsequent can ultimately applicability. As more knowledge continuously accumulated through materials science, matrix biology, technology, this provides recommendations researchers extend their chemical, biological, structural characterizations systematically enrich paradigm photo-polymerizable help ensure efficient safe photo-processing.