Prospects of Application of Silicon-Based Inorganic Hydrogels in Medicine and Cosmetology. A Review

Hydrogels are very popular in medicine and beauty industry. They are the basis or ingredients of materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, soft drug formulations, etc., as well as a variety of cosmetic products (creams, gels, lotions, masks, etc.). The vast majority of the hydrogels used in biomedical areas are polymer-based hydrogels. The use of inorganic hydrogels for these purposes is very limited, although they demonstrate a number of beneficial properties that the organic hydrogels lack. Silicon-based inorganic hydrogels, i.e. the hydrogels formed from inorganic particles containing silicon, attract special attention due to the influence of silicon on the human health and beauty, as well as due to special properties of such hydrogels. This review outlines the structural features, preparation methods, and biological and functional properties of the silicon-based hydrogels, as well as shows potential of the inorganic hydrogels in the medical applications and beauty industry.