BIOPOLYMER HYDROGELS: PATENT INSIGHTS AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS

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This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 02 | Page :
    By

    Unanza Gulzar,

  1. Associate Professor, School of Law, The North Cap University, Sector 23 A, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Abstract

Hydrogel biopolymers have become a valuable resource for next-generation functional materials due to their inherent properties, including compatibility with biological systems, environmental degradability, and minimal toxicity. Intelligent gels that respond to changes in temperature, pH, or ionic strength have various applications across industries like pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, and the food sector. This review systematically compiles findings from patent disclosures and non-patent literature to highlight recent trends in biopolymer-based hydrogel research, focusing on natural protein matrices such as fibrin and silk fibroin and collagen. It discusses recent advances in material modification and characterization and assesses their current uses in drug delivery. This study systematically maps granted patents on biopolymer-based hydrogels, emphasizing technological progress and innovation trends observed during 2024–2025. It evaluates the patentability of selected protein and polysaccharide-derived hydrogel systems and situates these developments within contemporary innovation ecosystems shaped by industry dominance, university–industry collaboration, and globalization. The analysis shows that patent ownership is largely concentrated among universities, collaborative entities, and research foundations, with China contributing nearly 60% of recent grants due to fast-track examination mechanisms. Despite notable technological progress, a limited understanding of biological interactions, degradation processes, and immunometabolism responses persists, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary research to support future clinical translation.

Keywords: Biopolymer, Biomedical Engineering, Collagen, Fibrin, Hydrogels, Silk Fibroin.

How to cite this article:
Unanza Gulzar. BIOPOLYMER HYDROGELS: PATENT INSIGHTS AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-.
How to cite this URL:
Unanza Gulzar. BIOPOLYMER HYDROGELS: PATENT INSIGHTS AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=241194


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Ahead of Print Subscription Review Article
Volume 14
02
Received 16/02/2026
Accepted 14/03/2026
Published 27/04/2026
Publication Time 70 Days
80

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