Electrically responsive smart hydrogels in drug delivery: a review

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Stimuli-responsive hydrogels exhibit rapid changes in polymeric network structure due to external or internal stimuli.
• Current research focuses on temperature, pH, glucose, and bio-molecule sensitive hydrogels for drug delivery.
• Electrically responsive hydrogels are emerging as advanced platforms for controlled release applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of recent advancements in drug delivery systems utilizing electrically responsive hydrogels.
• To highlight the potential of electrical stimuli for precise control over drug release kinetics.
• To discuss the formulation and application of these hydrogels in therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of stimuli-responsive hydrogel research, with a focus on electrically responsive systems.
• Analysis of studies employing polyelectrolyte hydrogels for electrically controlled drug release.
• Examination of in vitro and in vivo drug release profiles under electrical stimulation.

Main Results:

• Electrically responsive hydrogels allow for fine-tuning of drug release quantity and timing.
• Pulsatile drug release patterns can be achieved by alternating electrical stimulus application and removal.
• These hydrogels are being developed as gel matrices, implants, and membranes for drug delivery.

Conclusions:

• Electrically responsive hydrogels represent a significant development in achieving controlled drug delivery.
• Precise control over drug release is crucial for optimizing therapeutic outcomes.
• Further research into electrically responsive hydrogels promises enhanced drug therapy efficacy.