Current Trends in Gelatin-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Gelatin is a highly versatile natural polymer, which is widely used in healthcare-related sectors due to its advantageous properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, low-cost, and the availability of exposed chemical groups. In the biomedical field, gelatin is used also as a biomaterial for the development of drug delivery systems (DDSs) due to its applicability to several synthesis techniques. In this review, after a brief overview of its chemical and physical properties, the focus is placed on the commonly used techniques for the development of gelatin-based micro- or nano-sized DDSs. We highlight the potential of gelatin as a carrier of many types of bioactive compounds and its ability to tune and control select drugs’ release kinetics. The desolvation, nanoprecipitation, coacervation, emulsion, electrospray, and spray drying techniques are described from a methodological and mechanistic point of view, with a careful analysis of the effects of the main variable parameters on the DDSs’ properties. Lastly, the outcomes of preclinical and clinical studies involving gelatin-based DDSs are thoroughly discussed.

Advanced Drug Carriers: A Review of Selected Protein, Polysaccharide, and Lipid Drug Delivery Platforms

“…In addition, it is biocompatible and biodegradable, minimizing the risk of side effects. Moreover, gelatin can be used to produce microsphere drug carrier systems, ensuring stability and therapeutic efficacy [158][159][160].…”

Gelatin-based biomaterials and gelatin as an additive for chronic wound repair

“…For this reason, gelatin is biodegradable and biocompatible ( Lukin et al, 2022 ). Because of gelatin’s 1:1:1 ratio of anionic, cationic, and hydrophobic groups, its rheological properties and thermal stability are almost constant between pH 5 and 9 ( Milano et al, 2023 ). Approximately 13% of gelatin’s polypeptide chain consists of positively charged amino acid residues, 12% negatively charged amino acid residues, and 11% hydrophobic residues ( Elzoghby, 2013 ).…”

“…The amphoteric behavior characteristics of gelatin have been developed to deliver various drugs to treat cancer ( Aljabali et al, 2022 ). Another characteristic of gelatin is viscosity, which increases with polymer concentration and decreases with temperature and pH ( Milano et al, 2023 ). Gelatin is also a heat-sensitive material, often used as a sol-gel transition material ( Jiang et al, 2023 ).…”

Analysis of polyurethane/gelatin complex hydrogel system for protein imprinting

“…[29,30] With these unique qualities, gelatin-based hydrogels continue to drive innovation in areas like wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. [31,32] The evolving field of hydrogel-based imprinting techniques also extends to advanced methodologies such as surface imprinting, where statistical and machine learning algorithms can enhance design precision. [33][34][35][36][37][38] Techniques involving the imprinting of molecules on the surface of inorganic or organic carriers have gained prominence due to the resulting materials exhibiting well-defined morphology, thermal stability, and mechanical strength.…”