AUTHOR=Liu Guiting , Ding Zhangfan , Yuan Qijuan , Xie Huixu , Gu Zhipeng TITLE=Multi-Layered Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry VOLUME=6 YEAR=2018 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2018.00439 DOI=10.3389/fchem.2018.00439 ISSN=2296-2646 ABSTRACT=

Multi-layered hydrogels with organization of various functional layers have been the materials of choice for biomedical applications. This review summarized the recent progress of multi-layered hydrogels according to their preparation methods: layer-by-layer self-assembly technology, step-wise technique, photo-polymerization technique and sequential electrospinning technique. In addition, their morphology and biomedical applications were also introduced. At the end of this review, we discussed the current challenges to the development of multi-layered hydrogels and pointed out that 3D printing may provide a new platform for the design of multi-layered hydrogels and expand their applications in the biomedical field.