Hydrogel based drug delivery system: A review

Abstract

Hydrogels are the three-dimensional hydrophilic network which is crosslinked physically or chemically. Hydrogels are also called as hydrophilic gels because they absorb considerate amount of water. The characteristic properties of hydrogels are swelling, mechanical properties, biodegradable, elasticity, biocompatible, easy to modify, flexibility, etc. They are classified based on source, polymeric composition, biodegradability, configuration, cross linking, physical appearance, chemical charges, and drug release. Hydrogels can be synthesized from natural, synthetic, semisynthetic polymers via physical, chemical crosslinking, through grafting, coacervation and polymerization. The hydrogels are useful in daily life and their major applications are drug delivery to oral cavity, GI tract, rectal, ocular, protein, subcutaneous, transdermal, controlled drug delivery, preparation of contact lenses, wound healing, tissue engineering, biosensing, bacterial culture preparation, and various other fields like agriculture, electronics, cosmetics, gene delivery, perfume delivery, regenerative medicine, plastic surgery, sealant adhesive, watering beads for plant and water purification.

Application of In Situ Mucoadhesive Hydrogel with Anti-Inflammatory and Pro-Repairing Dual Properties for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis

“…Research indicates that hydrogels with pore sizes up to 50 μm are unable to transport oxygen and nutrients effectively . Conversely, hydrogels with pore sizes exceeding 80 μm are favorable for angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and migration . Therefore, the pore sizes of Col/HA-E and Col/HA-E/Alg hydrogels promote cell biological behavior.…”

Vinyl Polymers as Key Materials in Contact Lens Design: A Review of Progress and Future Directions

“…To enhance the performance and functionality of vinyl polymer‐based contact lenses, various surface modification and functionalization methods are employed. [ 48 ] These techniques aim to improve surface properties such as hydrophilicity, lubricity, and resistance to protein and lipid deposition. Surface modification techniques, such as plasma treatment or chemical etching, can be used to alter the surface properties of the vinyl polymer.…”