Porous Polymers from High Internal Phase Emulsions as Scaffolds for Biological Applications

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs), with densely packed droplets of internal phase and monomers dispersed in the continuous phase, are now an established medium for porous polymer preparation (polyHIPEs). The ability to influence the pore size and interconnectivity, together with the process scalability and a wide spectrum of possible chemistries are important advantages of polyHIPEs. In this review, the focus on the biomedical applications of polyHIPEs is emphasised, in particular the applications of polyHIPEs as scaffolds/supports for biological cell growth, proliferation and tissue (re)generation. An overview of the polyHIPE preparation methodology is given and possibilities of morphology tuning are outlined. In the continuation, polyHIPEs with different chemistries and their interaction with biological systems are described. A further focus is given to combined techniques and advanced applications.

Automated summary

This review highlights the importance and versatility of high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) and the resulting porous polymers (polyHIPEs) in biomedical applications. The focus is on the use of polyHIPEs as scaffolds for biological cell growth and tissue regeneration, along with their preparation methods and interactions with biological systems. Additionally, it touches upon the use of combined techniques and advanced applications in this field.