PVA-based hydrogels for tissue engineering: A review

Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a hydrophilic polymer with excellent biocompatibility and has been applied in various biomedical areas due to its favorable properties. PVA-based hydrogels have been recognized as promising biomaterials and suitable candidates for tissue engineering applications and can be manipulated to act various critical roles. However, due to some disadvantages (i.e., lack of cell-adhesive property), they needs further modification for desired and targeted applications. This review highlights recent progress in the design and fabrication of PVA-based hydrogels, including crosslinking and processing techniques. Finally, major challenges and future perspectives in tissue engineering are briefly discussed. [GRAPHICS] .