An overview on hydrophilic three dimensional networks: Hydrogels

Hydrogels are a group of polymeric materials, usually hydrophilic and are capable of holding large amounts of water in their three-dimensional networks. They became very popular in the recent times because of their unique properties such as high water content, softness, flexibility and biocompatibility. Hydrogels can be prepared by cross linking of natural and synthetic hydrophilic polymers physically or chemically. They have a vast application in biomedical area as they resemble the living tissue. Currently, hydrogels are used in the manufacture of contact lenses, hygiene products, tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery systems and wound dressings. This review provides information regarding the characteristics, biomedical applications and perspective on further potential developments of hydrogels.