Chemical functionalization strategies for poly(aspartic acid) towards crosslinking and processing capabilities.

Poly(aspartic acid) (PASP) hydrogels have gained significant attention in recent years due to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and tunable swelling behavior. This comprehensive review presents an overview of past and current research efforts focusing on PASP hydrogels, their functionalization strategies, processing methods and applications. The chemical functionalization of PASP is addressed, highlighting the ability to tailor the functionalities of PASP for customization. Precise control over functional groups for crosslinking enables the preparation of PASP hydrogels that can respond to environmental triggers, rendering them valuable for applications including, yet not limited to, controlled drug release, tissue engineering and self-healing concrete. Furthermore, the processing methods employed to produce PASP in different forms, such as films, nanoparticles and fibers are described. Finally, the applications of PASP hydrogels are overviewed, highlighting their potential to help improving human health and environmental sustainability by providing an alternative for fossil-based hydrogels. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]