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Gels
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Hydrogels for Drug Delivery
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Hydrogels for Drug Delivery

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2017) | Viewed by 54526

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Alejandro Sosnik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Nanomaterials Science, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
Interests: biomaterials; drugs; polymers; small-molecule drug and polymer self-assembly; polymeric nanoparticles; polymeric micelles; hybrid ceramic–polymer nanomaterials; pharmaceutical materials science; drug delivery and targeting; mucosal drug delivery; nanomedicine; pediatric cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Katia Seremeta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Research in Advanced Technological Processes, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, National University of the Chaco Austral (INIPTA—CONICET—UNCAUS), Chaco 3700, Argentina
Interests: pharmaceutical sciences; microtechnology; nanotechnology; drug delivery systems; polymers gels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the years, water-based gels (hydrogels) have attracted major attention as drug delivery systems. Among the most remarkable applications, it is worth mentioning prolonged drug residence time in the action site and more controlled rate of release and absorption, improved bioavailability, and reduced side-effects. One of the main advantages of hydrogels is their great versatility in terms of compositional features and adjustability to various administration routes, from parenteral to non-parenteral ones. Based on the application envisioned, the design of bioadhesive or mucoadhesive hydrogels may be of benefit. For example, hydrogels are used as wound dressing and dermatological patches for local and systemic therapy. In a similar way, they can be applied in the vaginal tract for local treatment or in the nasal cavity for a similar goal or, conversely, to targeting the central nervous system in the so-called intranasal delivery. Buccal hydrogels provide a high local concentration of the drug that facilitates absorption and surpasses hepatic first-pass metabolism. In this framework, innovative buccal films have been developed for administration of drugs in pediatric and unconscious patients or individuals with swallowing difficulty. More recently, the in situ-forming hydrogel technology in response to changes of the physiological conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, ionic strength) was exploited for the sustained release of active compounds by the subcutaneous and intramuscular routes. For this, hydrogel precursor solutions loaded with therapeutic compounds are injected in body sites deprived of significant fluids flow and stabilized by physical or chemical means. Overall, hydrogels have demonstrated outstanding capabilities to ensure patient compliance, while achieving long-term therapeutic effects. The present Special Issue is dedicated to overview the most relevant applications of hydrogels in drug delivery with special emphasis on mucosal routes.

Assoc. Prof. Alejandro Sosnik
Assist. Prof. Katia Seremeta
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hydrogels
  • drug delivery systems
  • administration routes
  • mucosal drug delivery
  • nanomedicine
  • bioavailability

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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3423 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Differently Shaped Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with NIPAM-Based Hydrogels on the Release of Cytochrome C
by Sulalit Bandyopadhyay, Anuvansh Sharma and Wilhelm Robert Glomm
Gels 2017, 3(4), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels3040042 - 08 Nov 2017
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5080
Abstract
Here, we report the synthesis and functionalization of five different shapes of Au nanoparticles (NPs), namely nanorods, tetrahexahedral, bipyramids, nanomakura, and spheres with PEG and poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-acrylic acid (pNIPAm-AAc) hydrogels. The anisotropic NPs are synthesized using seed-mediated growth in the presence [...] Read more.
Here, we report the synthesis and functionalization of five different shapes of Au nanoparticles (NPs), namely nanorods, tetrahexahedral, bipyramids, nanomakura, and spheres with PEG and poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-acrylic acid (pNIPAm-AAc) hydrogels. The anisotropic NPs are synthesized using seed-mediated growth in the presence of silver. The NPs have been characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements, UV-Visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (S(T)EM). Cyt C was loaded into the PEG-hydrogel-coated AuNPs using a modified breathing-in method. Loading efficiencies (up to 80%), dependent on particle geometry, concentration, and hydrogel content, were obtained. Release experiments conducted at high temperature (40 °C) and acidic pH (3) showed higher release for larger sizes of PEG-hydrogel-coated AuNPs, with temporal transition from spherical to thin film release geometry. AuNP shape, size, number density, and hydrogel content are found to influence the loading as well as release kinetics of Cyt C from these systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Drug Delivery)
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3957 KiB  
Article
Controlled Release of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor from Heparin-Functionalized Gelatin Type A and Albumin Hydrogels
by Christiane Claaßen, Lisa Sewald, Günter E. M. Tovar and Kirsten Borchers
Gels 2017, 3(4), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels3040035 - 09 Oct 2017
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6593
Abstract
Bio-based release systems for pro-angiogenic growth factors are of interest, to overcome insufficient vascularization and bio-integration of implants. In this study, we investigated heparin-functionalized hydrogels based on gelatin type A or albumin as storage and release systems for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). [...] Read more.
Bio-based release systems for pro-angiogenic growth factors are of interest, to overcome insufficient vascularization and bio-integration of implants. In this study, we investigated heparin-functionalized hydrogels based on gelatin type A or albumin as storage and release systems for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The hydrogels were crosslinked using carbodiimide chemistry in presence of heparin. Heparin-functionalization of the hydrogels was monitored by critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) staining. The hydrogels were characterized in terms of swelling in buffer solution and VEGF-containing solutions, and their loading with and release of VEGF was monitored. The equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS) was lower for albumin-based gels compared to gelatin-based gels. EDS was adjustable with the used carbodiimide concentration for both biopolymers. Furthermore, VEGF-loading and release were dependent on the carbodiimide concentration and loading conditions for both biopolymers. Loading of albumin-based gels was higher compared to gelatin-based gels, and its burst release was lower. Finally, elevated cumulative VEGF release after 21 days was determined for albumin-based hydrogels compared to gelatin A-based hydrogels. We consider the characteristic net charges of the proteins and degradation of albumin during release time as reasons for the observed effects. Both heparin-functionalized biomaterial systems, chemically crosslinked gelatin type A or albumin, had tunable physicochemical properties, and can be considered for controlled delivery of the pro-angiogenic growth factor VEGF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Drug Delivery)
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11010 KiB  
Article
Assembly of a Tripeptide and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs into Supramolecular Hydrogels for Sustained Release
by Marina Kurbasic, Chiara D. Romano, Ana M. Garcia, Slavko Kralj and Silvia Marchesan
Gels 2017, 3(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels3030029 - 03 Aug 2017
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6337
Abstract
Supramolecular hydrogels offer interesting opportunities for co-assembly with drugs towards sustained release over time, which could be achieved given that the drug participates in the hydrogel nanostructure, and it is not simply physically entrapped within the gel matrix. dLeu-Phe-Phe is an attractive [...] Read more.
Supramolecular hydrogels offer interesting opportunities for co-assembly with drugs towards sustained release over time, which could be achieved given that the drug participates in the hydrogel nanostructure, and it is not simply physically entrapped within the gel matrix. dLeu-Phe-Phe is an attractive building block of biomaterials in light of the peptide’s inherent biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study evaluates the assembly of the tripeptide in the presence of either of the anti-inflammatory drugs ketoprofen or naproxen at levels analogous to commercial gel formulations. Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR), circular dichroism, Thioflavin T fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and oscillatory rheometry are used. Drug release over time is monitored by means of reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and shows different kinetics for the two drugs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Drug Delivery)
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3506 KiB  
Article
A Controlled Antibiotic Release System for the Development of Single-Application Otitis Externa Therapeutics
by Bogdan A. Serban, Kristian T. Stipe, Jeremy B. Alverson, Erik R. Johnston, Nigel D. Priestley and Monica A. Serban
Gels 2017, 3(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels3020019 - 17 May 2017
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5073
Abstract
Ear infections are a commonly-occurring problem that can affect people of all ages. Treatment of these pathologies usually includes the administration of topical or systemic antibiotics, depending on the location of the infection. In this context, we sought to address the feasibility of [...] Read more.
Ear infections are a commonly-occurring problem that can affect people of all ages. Treatment of these pathologies usually includes the administration of topical or systemic antibiotics, depending on the location of the infection. In this context, we sought to address the feasibility of a single-application slow-releasing therapeutic formulation of an antibiotic for the treatment of otitis externa. Thixotropic hydrogels, which are gels under static conditions but liquefy when shaken, were tested for their ability to act as drug controlled release systems and inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, the predominant bacterial strains associated with outer ear infections. Our overall proof of concept, including in vitro evaluations reflective of therapeutic ease of administration, formulation stability, cytocompatibility assessment, antibacterial efficacy, and formulation lifespan, indicate that these thixotropic materials have strong potential for development as otic treatment products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Drug Delivery)
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Review

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15 pages, 2551 KiB  
Review
Nanocomposite Hydrogels: Advances in Nanofillers Used for Nanomedicine
by Arti Vashist, Ajeet Kaushik, Anujit Ghosal, Jyoti Bala, Roozbeh Nikkhah-Moshaie, Waseem A. Wani, Pandiaraj Manickam and Madhavan Nair
Gels 2018, 4(3), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels4030075 - 06 Sep 2018
Cited by 63 | Viewed by 9285
Abstract
The ongoing progress in the development of hydrogel technology has led to the emergence of materials with unique features and applications in medicine. The innovations behind the invention of nanocomposite hydrogels include new approaches towards synthesizing and modifying the hydrogels using diverse nanofillers [...] Read more.
The ongoing progress in the development of hydrogel technology has led to the emergence of materials with unique features and applications in medicine. The innovations behind the invention of nanocomposite hydrogels include new approaches towards synthesizing and modifying the hydrogels using diverse nanofillers synergistically with conventional polymeric hydrogel matrices. The present review focuses on the unique features of various important nanofillers used to develop nanocomposite hydrogels and the ongoing development of newly hydrogel systems designed using these nanofillers. This article gives an insight in the advancement of nanocomposite hydrogels for nanomedicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Drug Delivery)
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30 pages, 1731 KiB  
Review
Encapsulation of Biological Agents in Hydrogels for Therapeutic Applications
by Víctor H. Pérez-Luna and Orfil González-Reynoso
Gels 2018, 4(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels4030061 - 11 Jul 2018
Cited by 63 | Viewed by 7116
Abstract
Hydrogels are materials specially suited for encapsulation of biological elements. Their large water content provides an environment compatible with most biological molecules. Their crosslinked nature also provides an ideal material for the protection of encapsulated biological elements against degradation and/or immune recognition. This [...] Read more.
Hydrogels are materials specially suited for encapsulation of biological elements. Their large water content provides an environment compatible with most biological molecules. Their crosslinked nature also provides an ideal material for the protection of encapsulated biological elements against degradation and/or immune recognition. This makes them attractive not only for controlled drug delivery of proteins, but they can also be used to encapsulate cells that can have therapeutic applications. Thus, hydrogels can be used to create systems that will deliver required therapies in a controlled manner by either encapsulation of proteins or even cells that produce molecules that will be released from these systems. Here, an overview of hydrogel encapsulation strategies of biological elements ranging from molecules to cells is discussed, with special emphasis on therapeutic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Drug Delivery)
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18837 KiB  
Review
Polymeric Hydrogels as Technology Platform for Drug Delivery Applications
by Alejandro Sosnik and Katia P. Seremeta
Gels 2017, 3(3), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels3030025 - 03 Jul 2017
Cited by 62 | Viewed by 14096
Abstract
Hydrogels have become key players in the field of drug delivery owing to their great versatility 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 envisioned application, [...] Read more.
Hydrogels have become key players in the field of drug delivery owing to their great versatility 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 envisioned application, the design of bioadhesive or mucoadhesive hydrogels with prolonged residence time in the administration site may be beneficial. For example, hydrogels are used as wound dressings and patches for local and systemic therapy. In a similar way, they can be applied in the vaginal tract for local treatment or in the nasal cavity for a similar goal or, conversely, to target the central nervous system by the nose-to-brain pathway. Overall, hydrogels have demonstrated outstanding capabilities to ensure patient compliance, while achieving long-term therapeutic effects. The present work overviews the most relevant and recent applications of hydrogels in drug delivery with special emphasis on mucosal routes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Drug Delivery)
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