Polymeric Hydrogels as Technology Platform for Drug Delivery Applications

SOSNIK, ALEJANDRO; SEREMETA, KATIA

Gels

Gels

Lugar: Basilea; Año: 2017 vol. 3

Hydrogels have become key players in the field of drug delivery owing to their greatversatility in terms of composition and adjustability to various administration routes, from parenteral(e.g., intravenous) to non-parenteral (e.g., oral, topical) ones. In addition, based on the envisionedapplication, the design of bioadhesive or mucoadhesive hydrogels with prolonged residence timein the administration site may be beneficial. For example, hydrogels are used as wound dressingsand patches for local and systemic therapy. In a similar way, they can be applied in the vaginaltract for local treatment or in the nasal cavity for a similar goal or, conversely, to target the centralnervous system by the nose-to-brain pathway. Overall, hydrogels have demonstrated outstandingcapabilities to ensure patient compliance, while achieving long-term therapeutic effects. The presentwork overviews the most relevant and recent applications of hydrogels in drug delivery with specialemphasis on mucosal routes.