From Tissue Engineering to Drug Delivery: Dextran Enables Diverse Biomedical Solutions

How Dextran Is Powering the Next Generation of Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

The versatility of dextran continues to unlock new possibilities in biomaterials research.
A recent study from Aalborg University, “A photoinitiator-free UV-curable hydrogel with tunable properties using dextrans modified by adamantane, benzophenone, and β-cyclodextrin”, authored by Ruiqi Jing et al., highlights how dextran from Pharmacosmos can serve as a key building block for biocompatible, tunable, and photoinitiator-free hydrogels — paving the way for safer and smarter materials in biomedical applications.

A Safer and Smarter Approach to Hydrogel Design

Traditional hydrogels often rely on photoinitiators to trigger polymer cross-linking under UV light — but these compounds can introduce unwanted toxicity or interfere with biological activity.
The research team at Aalborg University found a way around this challenge.

By chemically modifying dextran with β-cyclodextrin (the “host”) and adamantane or benzophenone (the “guests”), they developed a new UV-curable hydrogel system that can cross-link without added photoinitiators.

The result is a robust, self-healing material whose properties — from viscosity to elasticity — can be finely tuned simply by adjusting the dextran molecular weight and composition

Key Advantages of the Dextran-Based Hydrogel

• Photoinitiator-free cross-linking: reduces potential toxicity and simplifies formulation.

• Excellent biocompatibility: negligible cytotoxicity confirmed in vitro.

• Tunable mechanical properties: adjustable stiffness and swelling behavior.

• Self-healing performance: retains integrity under mechanical stress, mimicking natural tissue resilience.

These combined features make the system highly attractive for biomedical use — particularly in fields where material safety, adaptability, and cell compatibility are critical.

From Tissue Engineering to Drug Delivery: Broad Biomedical Potential

One of the most exciting aspects of this study is just how versatile the dextran-based hydrogel can be.
Because the material combines biocompatibility, tunable stiffness, and UV-curable stability, it is particularly promising for tissue engineering — where it can serve as a 3D scaffold supporting cell growth and regeneration.

The hydrogel also supports cell encapsulation, suggesting potential in 3D bioprinting applications for soft tissue construction.
Moreover, the presence of β-cyclodextrin, a well-known molecular carrier, opens opportunities for controlled drug delivery and other biomedical systems.

This research underscores the versatility of dextran as a functional polymer for biomedical innovation. Its adaptability in hydrogel design, combined with excellent biocompatibility, positions dextran as a cornerstone material in the advancement of regenerative medicine and biofabrication technologies.