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Validation of Therapeutic Agent Conjugation to Polyvinyl Alcohol-Coated Medical Devices
Published on: November 29, 2024
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A Review of pH-Responsive Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)-Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based Hydrogels in Colon-Targeted Drug Delivery
Mohammad Javad Mohammadi Tazehabadi1, Mojtaba Ansari2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran.
Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|February 22, 2026
Summary
This review explores pH-responsive hydrogels made from Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) for colon-targeted drug delivery. These systems protect medications from stomach acid and release them in the colon.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Colon-targeted drug delivery offers solutions for drug limitations in modern medicine.
- pH-responsive systems protect drugs from stomach acidity and ensure colon delivery.
- Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) are biocompatible polymers with useful properties for drug delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review various forms of pH-responsive PVA-PAA-based hydrogels for colon-targeted drug delivery.
- To highlight the potential of these hydrogels for delivering diverse therapeutic agents to the colon.
Main Methods:
- The review focuses on the combination of PVA and PAA polymers to create pH-sensitive hydrogels.
- Discussion of hydrogel properties, including hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and mechanical characteristics.
- Exploration of how the acidic functional groups in PAA contribute to pH-sensitivity.
Main Results:
- PVA-PAA hydrogels demonstrate pH-responsive behavior suitable for colon delivery.
- These hydrogels can protect drugs from the acidic environment of the stomach.
- The combination of PVA and PAA enables the development of effective colon-targeted drug delivery systems.
Conclusions:
- pH-sensitive PVA-PAA-based hydrogels are promising for colon-targeted drug delivery.
- These hydrogels can safely deliver various drugs, including NSAIDs, anticancer agents, and insulin, to the colon.
- Further research into various forms of these hydrogels can optimize colon delivery strategies.
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