Designing adhesive hydrogels for oral diseases treatment

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Oral Medicine
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• The oral cavity presents unique challenges for localized drug delivery due to its wet, dynamic, and microbial environment.
• Adhesive hydrogels are emerging as a promising solution, offering sustained release and adherence under challenging conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and categorize advancements in adhesive hydrogels for oral localized drug delivery.
• To provide a quantitative comparison of experimental hydrogels with clinical standards across various oral pathologies.
• To highlight the importance of biomechanical crosstalk and integrated testing methodologies for evaluating oral hydrogel performance.

Main Methods:

• Structured review categorizing hydrogel advancements into molecular bonding, network reinforcement, and system-level adaptation.
• Systematic evaluation of chemical motifs for interfacial stability and responsive designs.
• Quantitative comparison of experimental hydrogels against clinical gold standards.
• Analysis of biomechanical crosstalk, including microbial enzymatic activity and mechanical fatigue.

Main Results:

• Adhesive hydrogels demonstrate potential for enhanced site-specific compatibility and sustained drug release in the oral cavity.
• Biomechanical crosstalk significantly influences the longevity of adhesive interfaces, impacted by microbial activity and mechanical stress.
• Current testing methodologies often fail to capture the complex in vivo oral environment.

Conclusions:

• A hierarchical approach to hydrogel design, considering molecular, network, and system levels, is crucial for oral drug delivery.
• Integrated evaluation paradigms simulating combined physical and biological stressors are needed for accurate performance prediction.
• This review provides a roadmap for developing stable and efficient next-generation oral therapies using advanced hydrogel systems.