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Abstract
A hydrogel with bioadhesive function has high water content, inherent flexibility, adjustable mechanical strength, adequate biocompatibility, and a wide range of application prospects in the field of biomedicine. However, achieving reversible and robust adhesion between the hydrogel and the biological interface remains a challenge, including slow adhesive formation, weak adhesion, low biocompatibility, poor mechanical matching with tissues, and the lack of a benign detachment that can be triggered. Bioadhesive hydrogels adhere to distinct biological tissues and are used in biomedicine through the interaction between interfaces. The adhesion mechanism is usually a combination of multiple interactions in which one interaction is dominant. This article summarizes the preparation of bioadhesive hydrogels, the characteristics of biological interfaces, the methods of enhancing adhesion, and measuring the adhesion of hydrogels. These will assist researchers in developing adhesion strategies and accurately measuring adhesive forces according to contrasting biological interfaces.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.
Author contributions
Along Zuo and Huanhui Wang wrote the manuscript. Huanhui Wang collected references with the help of Jianpeng Guo and Along Zuo. Xuena Li reviewed and concurred with the final manuscript. Along Zuo is the guarantor of this work and as such, had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Maocheng Li and Shuangqing Wang proofread the article.