Hydrogel: A Promising Material in Pharmaceutics

Abstract

: Hydrogels are natural or synthetic polymeric networks, insoluble in water, or sometimes found as colloidal gel where the dispersion medium is water. Hydrogels can absorb approximately 90% water and are regarded as superabsorbent materials hence resembles the natural living tissue, more than any other biological-based materials. Because of its ability to absorb water, they are used to investigate the properties of swollen polymer networks and have wide applications in different fields such as contact lenses, drug delivery systems for proteins, and many others. To make biodegradable, labile chemical bonds are introduced in the main backbone through crosslinking. These unstable bonds can then be broken down by various agents via chemically, physically, or enzymatically, generally by hydrolysis or through some controlled parameters. Hydrogels are frequently used in the medical field. For instance, pH and temperaturesensitive hydrogels may be used in the targeted drug delivery which will be explained in detail in the current review. The other applications of hydrogels will be explained in personal health care products, biomedical, bio-separation, wound healing, tissue engineering, and drug delivery, etc. which make them promising materials in pharmaceutics. They are also used in agriculture and environmental remediation. The purpose of this review is to expose their silent features and biomedical applications.

Polymeric Hydrogel Scaffolds: Skin Tissue Engineering and Regeneration

“…In contrast to natural polymers, synthetic polymer-based hydrogels have enormous control over the structural properties, such as biodegradation, mechanical strength, and chemical response. 16,17…”

Synthesis and characterization of poly (acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid)/chitosan (derived from fish scales) for controlled release of amoxicillin drug

“…90% of water and are considered superabsorbent materials. 3 Because of their excellent water absorption capability, thermal stability, and biodegradability, these kinds of materials can be used in various important sectors such as decorative gardening, dippers for babies and old people, microfluidics, sanitary goods, drug delivery, agriculture, and medical applications. 4,5 Hydrogel and superabsorbent materials have an elastic modulus within the range of 10 0 -10 2 kPa, they are highly flexible and soft, and the efficiency of deformation and mobility is comparatively much greater as compared to any rigid materials.…”

Zn2+/Poly(2‐Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Itaconic Acid) Hydrogels as Potential Antibacterial Wound Dressings

“…Hydrogels, as hydrophilic polymer-based materials known for their ability to absorb and bind large amounts of physiological fluids, can be tailored for specific spatial and temporal controlled delivery of a variety of bioactive agents for topical application. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Polymeric drug delivery systems have been developed for several decades as an alternative to conventional drug formulations, mainly to address the insufficient local availability of drugs and the problems associated with delivery targets. [23][24][25][26][27] They are suitable for the incorporation and controlled delivery and release of antibiotics and various antibacterial agents covering the important problem of developing bacterial infections.…”