Hydrogels for Drug Delivery

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

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