Stimuli-responsive injectable chitosan-based hydrogels for controlled drug delivery systems

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Injectable hydrogels are increasingly researched for precise, non-invasive drug delivery.
• Chitosan-based hydrogels show promise due to biocompatibility, mucosal adhesion, and hemostatic properties.
• Stimuli-responsive hydrogels offer controlled drug release but can be challenging to design and may need crosslinking agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of dual pH and thermo-responsive chitosan hydrogels for advanced drug delivery.
• To address challenges in managing the structure and responsiveness of stimuli-responsive chitosan hydrogels.
• To highlight the importance of developing these hydrogels for medicinal applications.

Main Methods:

• Investigating chitosan (CS) hydrogel properties.
• Designing dual pH and thermo-responsive hydrogel systems.
• Evaluating hydrogel structure and responsiveness for drug delivery applications.

Main Results:

• Chitosan-based hydrogels exhibit significant potential for tissue engineering and drug delivery.
• Dual pH and thermo-responsive hydrogels present unique advantages for controlled release.
• Challenges in structural control and crosslinking for stimuli-responsive CS hydrogels were identified.

Conclusions:

• Developing precisely controlled, stimuli-responsive chitosan hydrogels is crucial for advanced medicinal applications.
• Dual responsiveness enhances the functionality of hydrogels for targeted drug delivery.
• Further research is needed to overcome structural management challenges in these advanced hydrogel systems.