Hydrogels as Potential Controlled Drug Delivery System: Drug Release Mechanism and Applications

Abstract

Hydrogels are one of the most extensively studied novel drug delivery dosage forms owing to their satisfactory results in drug delivery in various conditions, including pain management, immunomodulation, carcinomas, healing of wounds, and cardiology. A crosslinked polymeric network and an optimum amount of water combine to form hydrogels. Due to their specific properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, hydrophilicity, and non-toxic to biological tissues, hydrogels are demanding biomaterials. Furthermore, due to their programmable physical characteristics, controlled degradation behavior, and capability to preserve unstable medicines from degradation, hydrogels serve as an advanced drug delivery system in which diverse physiochemical interactions with the polymeric matrix containing embedded medications control their release. Despite significant challenges remaining, there has been significant progress in recent years in overcoming the clinical and pharmacological constraints of hydrogels for drug delivery applications This review covers various hydrogel-forming polymers, strategies for crosslinking of gelling agents, and release mechanisms from the hydrogel. Moreover, the current work includes a few marketed hydrogel preparations and patent rights associated with it, describing its mechanism of action against the underlying diseases.

Enhanced Surface Immunomodification of Engineered Hydrogel Materials through Chondrocyte Modulation for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

“…Given the biological inertness of some implanted materials, biodegradable materials have become the primary therapeutic choice for clinical OA treatment, offering mechanical support, aiding in bone tissue regeneration and repair, and degrading in vivo. Clinical studies [43] have highlighted hydrogel materials' superior potential in promoting cartilage formation. Their ability to form in situ scaffolds without open surgery and to be injected intra-articularly without impairing chondrocyte colonization or differentiation has broadened their application in OA treatment protocols.…”