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Pharmaceuticals
Volume 19
Issue 6
10.3390/ph19060837
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Review

Modern Drug Delivery Platforms Based on Photocrosslinkable Hydrogels (PCHs) in Dentistry: From Material Characteristics to Clinical Applications—A Review

by
Susanna Sologova
1,
Diana Sologova
2,*,
Anna Shumkina
3,
Vera Brazhnikova
4,
Victoria Morozova
2,
Sergey Sologov
3,
Sergey Rusanov
3,
George Anikin
3,
Raisa Chilova
3,
Elena Smolyarchuk
1 and
Elena Bakhrushina
5
1
Department of Pharmacology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119991, Russia
2
Department of Oral Surgery, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119991, Russia
3
Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119991, Russia
4
A.P. Nelyubin Institute of Pharmacy, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119991, Russia
5
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119991, Russia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(6), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19060837
Submission received: 5 May 2026 / Revised: 16 May 2026 / Accepted: 19 May 2026 / Published: 27 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Pharmaceutical Technology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Modern dentistry increasingly requires biomaterials that not only replace damaged tissues but also actively regulate healing processes, modulate inflammation, and provide controlled delivery of therapeutic agents under the complex physicochemical conditions of the oral cavity. This review aims to analyze the potential of PCHs, particularly methacryloyl gelatin (GelMA), as multifunctional platforms for drug delivery in dental applications. Methods: This review provides a structured narrative synthesis of the literature, focusing on the physicochemical, biological, and translational aspects of photocrosslinkable hydrogels in dentistry. Special attention was given to the key functional requirements for hydrogels used in dentistry, including adhesion in a wet environment, antimicrobial properties, and the ability to provide sustained and localized release of active compounds. Natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic polymers were comparatively evaluated to justify the selection of GelMA as a leading platform due to its tunable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and photopolymerization capacity. The review also analyzes mechanisms of drug release activation and provides a comparative assessment of commonly used photoinitiators, including Irgacure 2959, lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP), and camphorquinone, with emphasis on their cytocompatibility with oral tissues. Results: Applications of these hydrogels in endodontics, periodontology, peri-implantitis therapy, and regeneration of bone and dental pulp are summarized. Conclusions: Overall, photocrosslinkable GelMA-based hydrogels (PC-GelMA) represent promising multifunctional platforms for localized drug delivery and regenerative strategies in modern dentistry.
Keywords: hydrogels; drug delivery systems (DDS); regenerative dentistry; gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA); polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA); photocrosslinking hydrogels; drug delivery systems (DDS); regenerative dentistry; gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA); polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA); photocrosslinking

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MDPI and ACS Style

Sologova, S.; Sologova, D.; Shumkina, A.; Brazhnikova, V.; Morozova, V.; Sologov, S.; Rusanov, S.; Anikin, G.; Chilova, R.; Smolyarchuk, E.; et al. Modern Drug Delivery Platforms Based on Photocrosslinkable Hydrogels (PCHs) in Dentistry: From Material Characteristics to Clinical Applications—A Review. Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19, 837. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19060837

AMA Style

Sologova S, Sologova D, Shumkina A, Brazhnikova V, Morozova V, Sologov S, Rusanov S, Anikin G, Chilova R, Smolyarchuk E, et al. Modern Drug Delivery Platforms Based on Photocrosslinkable Hydrogels (PCHs) in Dentistry: From Material Characteristics to Clinical Applications—A Review. Pharmaceuticals. 2026; 19(6):837. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19060837

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sologova, Susanna, Diana Sologova, Anna Shumkina, Vera Brazhnikova, Victoria Morozova, Sergey Sologov, Sergey Rusanov, George Anikin, Raisa Chilova, Elena Smolyarchuk, and et al. 2026. "Modern Drug Delivery Platforms Based on Photocrosslinkable Hydrogels (PCHs) in Dentistry: From Material Characteristics to Clinical Applications—A Review" Pharmaceuticals 19, no. 6: 837. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19060837

APA Style

Sologova, S., Sologova, D., Shumkina, A., Brazhnikova, V., Morozova, V., Sologov, S., Rusanov, S., Anikin, G., Chilova, R., Smolyarchuk, E., & Bakhrushina, E. (2026). Modern Drug Delivery Platforms Based on Photocrosslinkable Hydrogels (PCHs) in Dentistry: From Material Characteristics to Clinical Applications—A Review. Pharmaceuticals, 19(6), 837. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19060837

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