Used in biomedical applications such as drug delivery systems due to its biocompatibility and controlled release properties. Frequently employed in hydrogel formulations for contact lenses and ocular drug delivery. Acts as a matrix material in tissue engineering scaffolds because of its structural stability and tunable degradation. Commonly utilized in coatings for medical devices to improve surface biocompatibility and reduce protein fouling. Also applied in stimuli-responsive materials where changes in temperature or pH trigger structural responses for targeted therapeutic release.