Advanced construction strategies to obtain nanocomposite hydrogels for bone repair and regeneration

Bone tissue engineering is pivotal in facilitating bone reconstruction by promoting persistent angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Initially, the hot gel composite hydrogel scaffold technique was employed. However, to address various limitations, numerous gel structures have since been developed, including osteogenic gellan gels, semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels, photoinduced crosslinking methacrylate gels, and supramolecular hydrogels. This review examines the mechanisms, formation principles, and medical benefits of these gel structures. In addition, novel bioengineering techniques to regulate human bone growth are expected to emerge in the future. This work is expected to significantly expedite the advancement of hydrogel membranes in the field of bone repair. Despite years of exploration, numerous challenges remain unresolved in the field of hydrogels and hydrogel membranes for bone repair. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles and current development status of hydrogel materials for bone repair, including their mechanisms, formation principles, and medical benefits in bone regeneration. Additionally, we summarize recent effective strategies to develop advanced hydrogels and technical approaches for bone repair while also discussing future directions.