Platforms

Hydrogels

Injectable, printable and stimuli-responsive hydrogels for controlled delivery, tissue support and next-generation biomedical devices.

Overview

About this research

Injectable, printable and stimuli-responsive hydrogels for controlled delivery, tissue support and next-generation biomedical devices.

People

Research team

Director of TERG · Professor of Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine · Principal Investigator

Fergal O’Brien

Biomaterials · Tissue engineering · Regenerative medicine

View profile

Senior Lecturer · Principal Investigator

Ciara Murphy

Biomaterials · Bioengineering · Bioinorganic ions

View profile

Principal Investigator

Shane Browne

Angiogenesis · Biomaterials · Gene delivery

View profile

Principal Investigator

Tom Hodgkinson

Bone and joint repair · Biomaterials · Gene delivery

View profile

Research Fellow · Principal Investigator, Biomimetic Design Lab

Ian Woods

Electroconductive biomaterials · Gene therapeutics · Neurological disease models

View profile

Head of Department · Principal Investigator

Garry Duffy

Translational medicine · Medical devices · Chronic wound technologies

View profile

Outputs

Related publications

2025Advanced ScienceFeatured

3D-Printing of Electroconductive MXene-Based Micro-Meshes in a Biomimetic Hyaluronic Acid-Based Scaffold Directs and Enhances Electrical Stimulation for Neural Repair Applications

Ian Woods, Dahnan Spurling, S. Sunil, Anne Marie O’Callaghan, Jack Maughan, Javier Gutierrez Gonzalez, Tara K. McGuire, Liam M. Leahy, Adrian Dervan, Valeria Nicolosi and Fergal J. O’Brien

Hydrogels Biofabrication and 3D printing Electroactive biomaterials and stimulation Spinal cord, peripheral nerve and neural repair

DOI

2025GelsFeatured

The Design and Development of an Injectable Thermoresponsive Hydrogel for Controlled Simvastatin Release in Bone Repair Applications

Christopher R. Simpson, Helena M. Kelly and Ciara M. Murphy

Hydrogels Targeted therapeutic delivery Bone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA

DOI Article

2025Materials today. Bio

Hyaluronic acid as a versatile building block for the development of biofunctional hydrogels: In vitro models and preclinical innovations.

Petit N, Chang YJ, Lobianco FA, Hodgkinson T, Browne S

Hydrogels Advanced disease models

DOI Article

2024Materials Today BioFeatured

A miR-activated hydrogel for the delivery of a pro-chondrogenic microRNA-221 inhibitor as a minimally invasive therapeutic approach for articular cartilage repair

Shan An, Claudio Intini, Donagh O’Shea, James E. Dixon, Yiran Zheng and Fergal J. O’Brien

Hydrogels Targeted therapeutic delivery Gene-activated materials Bone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA

DOI Article

2023BiofabricationFeatured

An injectable and 3D printable pro-chondrogenic hyaluronic acid and collagen type II composite hydrogel for the repair of articular cartilage defects

Donagh G. O’Shea, Tom Hodgkinson, Caroline M. Curtin and Fergal J. O’Brien

Hydrogels Biofabrication and 3D printing Bone, cartilage, joint repair and PTOA

DOI Article

2023Current osteoporosis reports

Biomimetic Inspired Hydrogels for Regenerative Vertebral Body Stenting.

Kaur K, Sannoufi R, Butler JS, Murphy CM

Hydrogels

DOI Article

2021Polymers

3D-Printed Gelatin Methacrylate Scaffolds with Controlled Architecture and Stiffness Modulate the Fibroblast Phenotype towards Dermal Regeneration.

R Ibañez RI, do Amaral RJFC, Reis RL, Marques AP, Murphy CM, O'Brien FJ

Hydrogels Biofabrication and 3D printing Skin and wound healing Biomaterial scaffolds

DOI Article

2020Acta biomaterialia

Pre-culture of mesenchymal stem cells within RGD-modified hyaluronic acid hydrogel improves their resilience to ischaemic conditions.

Gallagher LB, Dolan EB, O'Sullivan J, Levey R, Cavanagh BL, Kovarova L, Pravda M, Velebny V, Farrell T, O'Brien FJ, Duffy GP

Hydrogels

DOI Article

Collaborate

Bring a problem worth solving.

We welcome conversations with academic, clinical and industry partners whose expertise can create a stronger route to impact.

Contact the lab