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Hydrogels in Neurological Disorders: Emerging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications
Nan-Nan Wang1, Fei Cao1, Da Xu1
1Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
International Journal of Nanomedicine
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Hydrogels offer advanced solutions for neurological disorders, improving brain diagnostics with better Electroencephalography (EEG) and enabling targeted drug delivery by overcoming the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These versatile materials pave the way for innovative neuro-bioengineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Neuroscience
- Medical Engineering
Background:
- Clinical management of neurological disorders faces significant diagnostic and therapeutic limitations.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) suffers from low spatial resolution and signal quality issues.
- The blood-brain barrier (BBB) impedes effective drug delivery to the brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review hydrogels as a versatile material platform for neurological applications.
- To highlight hydrogels' potential in improving EEG diagnostics and drug delivery.
- To discuss challenges and future directions for clinical translation of hydrogel-based technologies.
Main Methods:
- Review of physicochemical properties and fabrication techniques of hydrogels.
- Discussion of hydrogel applications in neural bio-electrodes, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and drug delivery.
- Analysis of challenges and mitigation strategies for clinical translation.
Main Results:
- Hydrogel-based electrodes offer high-fidelity EEG acquisition with biocompatibility and low impedance.
- Hydrogels serve as scaffolds for high-efficiency, programmable release of therapeutic agents.
- Hydrogels show promise for advanced neuro-bioengineering and brain-computer interfaces.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogels present a promising material solution to overcome diagnostic and therapeutic bottlenecks in neurological disorders.
- Integration of hydrogel functionalities can advance closed-loop therapeutic systems for precise neurological management.
- Further research and development are needed to address challenges in clinical translation.
