Hydrogels for three-dimensional tissue engineering models

Polymeric biomaterials have been used worldwide in the tissue engineering field. In fact, polymeric biomaterials have shown great potential for the creation of three-dimensional (3D) tissue-engineered models by different fabrication methods. Special attention has been given to polymeric hydrogels. One of the main reasons is the capacity to partially recapitulate the native tissues’ extracellular matrix (ECM). Moreover, in the past few years increasing efforts have been devoted to the development of multifunctional hydrogels obtained from different sources to be used as ECM-mimic biomaterials for the production of more realistic 3D engineered tissue models. Such engineered models have emerged as a promising approach capable to emulate important features of native tissues, facilitating the study and screening of new products and therapies, and fasten their translation into the clinics