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Pharmaceutics
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Application of Stimuli-Sensitive Hydrogel for the Treatment of Human and...
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Application of Stimuli-Sensitive Hydrogel for the Treatment of Human and Animal Diseases

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Delivery and Controlled Release".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 2600

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Donato Cosco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Campus "S. Venuta", 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: drug delivery; liposomes; pharmaceutical technology; polymeric micro/nanoparticles; selective targeting
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elena Giuliano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Campus Universitario “S. Venuta”, Viale S. Venuta, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: hydrogels; pluronics; rheology; amphiphilic block copolymers; liposomes; polymeric nanoparticles

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels are three-dimensional network structures made up of synthetic and/or natural polymers that can retain a large amount of water or biological fluid under physiological conditions. Among these, stimuli-responsive hydrogels have been attracting increasing interest because of their ability to spontaneously form a network in response to specific parameters, such as pH, light, temperature, ultrasound waves, electromagnetic radiation or biological stimuli. Moreover, these systems can be characterized by self-healing properties, an advantage over traditional hydrogels. They can be easily injected in liquid form—even into irregular sites—and undergo gelation in the body, promoting a prolonged and sustained drug release, thereby improving the therapeutic outcome of various active compounds. As a result, they have made significant contributions to the advancement of non- and minimally invasive medical treatments.

The aim of this Special Issue is to showcase recent progress concerning the synthesis, characterization and applications of smart hydrogels for the treatment of human and animal diseases.

We are pleased to invite you to share your latest results and contributions in this field. Original research papers, short communications and review articles are all welcome.

Dr. Donato Cosco
Dr. Elena Giuliano
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Pharmaceutics 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 2900 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

  • stimuli-responsive hydrogels
  • self healing
  • rheology
  • injectable systems
  • smart hydrogels

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 3223 KB  
Article
Injectable In Situ Thermoreversible Gel Depot System of Lidocaine Nanoemulsion for Prolonged Anesthetic Activity in Dental and Operative Procedures
by Shery Jacob, Fathima Sheik Kather, Shakta Mani Satyam, Sai H. S. Boddu, Firas Assaf, Tasnem H. Abdelfattah Allam and Anroop B. Nair
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(10), 1355; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101355 - 20 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 974
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Lidocaine hydrochloride (LD-HCl) is the most commonly used local anesthetic in dentistry, often administered with epinephrine to extend its duration and reduce systemic absorption. However, its relatively short duration of action, the need for repeated injections, and the unpleasant taste may limit [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Lidocaine hydrochloride (LD-HCl) is the most commonly used local anesthetic in dentistry, often administered with epinephrine to extend its duration and reduce systemic absorption. However, its relatively short duration of action, the need for repeated injections, and the unpleasant taste may limit patient compliance and procedural efficiency. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel injectable nanoemulsion-based in situ gel depot system of LD to provide prolonged anesthetic activity. Methods: LD-loaded nanoemulsions were formulated by high-shear homogenization followed by probe sonication, employing Miglyol 812 N (oil phase), a combination of Tween 80 and soy lecithin (surfactant–co-surfactant), glycerin, and deionized water (aqueous phase). The selected nanoemulsion (S1) was dispersed in a thermoreversible poloxamer solution to form a nanoemulgel. The preparation was evaluated for globule diameter and uniformity, zeta potential, surface morphology, pH, drug content, stability, rheological behavior, injectability, and in vitro drug release. Analgesic efficacy was assessed via tail-flick and thermal paw withdrawal latency tests in Wistar rats. Cardiovascular safety was monitored using non-invasive electrocardiography and blood pressure measurements. Results: The developed nanoemulsions demonstrated a spherical shape, nanometer size (206 nm), high zeta-potential (−66.67 mV) and uniform size distribution, with a polydispersity index of approximately 0.40, while the nanoemulgel demonstrated appropriate thixotropic properties for parenteral administration. In vitro release profiles showed steady LD release (5 h), following the Higuchi model. In vivo studies showed significantly prolonged analgesic effects lasting up to 150 min (2.5 h) compared to standard LD-HCl injection (p < 0.001), with no adverse cardiovascular effects observed. Conclusions: The developed injectable LD in situ nanoemulgel offers a promising, patient-friendly alternative for prolonged anesthetic delivery in dental and operative procedures, potentially reducing the need for repeated injections and enhancing procedural comfort. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Stimuli-Sensitive Hydrogel for the Treatment of Human and Animal Diseases)
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25 pages, 6293 KB  
Article
A Fungistatic Strategy Using a Shear-Thinning pH-Responsive CMCS-OHA-Lp/Lr Hydrogel for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
by Yuanmin Zhao, Xiu Yang, Jiale Han, Chaoqi Huang, Mengliu Shao, Yan Yang, Qingliang Yang and Gensheng Yang
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(4), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17040527 - 17 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1048
Abstract
Background: Vulvar vaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a type of vaginitis resulting from a Candida infection of the vaginal mucosa. Traditional treatments using antibiotics often lead to resistance and disrupt the vaginal microenvironment, causing ongoing problems for patients. In response to these challenges, [...] Read more.
Background: Vulvar vaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a type of vaginitis resulting from a Candida infection of the vaginal mucosa. Traditional treatments using antibiotics often lead to resistance and disrupt the vaginal microenvironment, causing ongoing problems for patients. In response to these challenges, this study introduces a multifunctional intelligent responsive probiotic hydrogel designed to modulate the vaginal microecological environment to combat Candida albicans infection. Methods: The innovative CMCS-OHA-Lp/Lr hydrogel was formulated using oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) as carriers, incorporating Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lr) as active components. Comprehensive characterization of the CMCS-OHA-Lp/Lr hydrogel revealed its chemical structure, rheological properties, rapid self-healing properties, gel degradation, and the release of lactobacilli in vitro. Results: The findings demonstrated that the hydrogel’s cross-linking conferred significant physical properties. In addition, the in vitro release study of Lactobacillus showed that the cumulative release rates of Lp and Lr in the medium with pH 5.5 were 83.50 ± 2.70% and 73.31 ± 2.22%, which proved the pH-responsive release characteristics of probiotics in acidic vaginal environments. Furthermore, the storage activity of Lactobacillus indicated that the survival rates of the CMCS-OHA-Lp and CMCS-OHA-Lr hydrogels were 86.90 ± 0.20% and 85.50 ± 0.56%, respectively, proving that encapsulation within the hydrogels significantly enhanced the storage stability of probiotics. In vivo studies further confirmed that the hydrogel alleviated vulval edema symptoms and reduced C. albicans colonies in the vagina, thereby mitigating vaginal inflammation. Conclusions: In conclusion, this pH-responsive, self-healing, and shear-thinning hydrogel offers a promising approach for the clinical treatment of VVC and serves as an effective probiotic delivery vehicle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Stimuli-Sensitive Hydrogel for the Treatment of Human and Animal Diseases)
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