Recent advances in the modeling of peg hydrogel membranes for biomedical applications

Abstract

This chapter reviews recent progress in mathematical and computational modeling of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel membranes used in biomedical applications. It discusses the fundamental principles of PEG hydrogel formation through photopolymerization and examines models that predict membrane properties such as gelation time, cross-link density, membrane thickness, swelling behavior, and transport characteristics. The authors explain how these models can be used to optimize hydrogel design for applications including cell encapsulation, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biofunctional scaffold fabrication. The chapter also highlights the importance of combining experimental studies with predictive modeling to develop PEG hydrogel systems with tailored biological and mechanical properties for specific biomedical applications.