Cross-Linked Hydrogel for Pharmaceutical Applications: A Review

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Hydrogels possess key properties like biocompatibility, biodegradability, hydrophilicity, and non-toxicity.
• These characteristics make them highly suitable for medical and pharmaceutical applications.
• Recent advancements show significant growth in hydrogel use, particularly in transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) as gels and patches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review hydrogel types based on cross-linking strategies.
• To describe synthesis methods for designing hydrogels for diverse pharmaceutical applications.
• To discuss hydrogel chemistry, structure, and water content in the context of pharmaceutical use.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on hydrogel classification by cross-linking.
• Analysis of synthesis methodologies for pharmaceutical hydrogels.
• Examination of structure-property relationships and water content.

Main Results:

• Categorization of hydrogels based on various cross-linking mechanisms.
• Overview of synthesis routes enabling tailored hydrogel design.
• Discussion of how structure and water content influence hydrogel performance in drug delivery.

Conclusions:

• Hydrogels are advanced biomaterials with significant potential in pharmaceutical applications, especially TDDS.
• Understanding cross-linking, synthesis, and structural properties is crucial for optimizing hydrogel-based drug delivery systems.
• Further research into hydrogel design can lead to innovative therapeutic solutions.