Hydrogels in Drug Delivery – Part 1
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
See the new book, edited by Alejandro J. Paredes, Garry Laverty, Eneko Larrañeta, Ryan F. Donnelly. It covers the fundamental mechanisms of drug delivery from a hydrophilic matrix, breaks down interconnections between introductory theory and applied materials chapters and includes experimental pictures and links to multimedia features including videos and slides.
Description
Advances in the Manufacture, Characterization, and Application of Hydrogels to Address Current Global Healthcare Challenges presents the latest advances in hydrogels, ranging from their basic chemistry to specific application of existing and novel hydrogels in controlled drug delivery and biomedicine. Hydrogels have been increasingly used in the development of novel formulations in a wide variety of therapeutic and monitoring applications. Multidisciplinary work carried out by researchers working in synthetic chemistry, drug delivery, biomedicine and other fields has led to the development of novel polymers, enabling the preparation of hydrogels with adjustable physicochemical properties. Accordingly, these materials offer multiple advantages over other drug delivery systems, including an increased patient compliance by reducing the required number of medication doses, reducing the healing time in injuries, and simplifying patient monitoring by reducing the invasiveness of current methods.
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery is an essential resource for graduate students and researchers working within drug delivery and synthetic chemistry, biomedicine, material science, pharmacology, and chemical engineering.
Chapter 3
Molecularly imprinted hydrogels in drug delivery
Molecular imprinting is a leading artificial molecular recognition technology which creates simple, elegant biomimetics that incorporate binding sites bearing steric and chemical functionality complementary to a given target, within a robust polymeric matrix. They represent a generic, versatile, scalable, and cost-effective approach to the creation of synthetic molecular receptors, and their synthetic nature is ideal for the exploration of nontraditional applications where antibodies, etc. are not suitable. Recent advances have meant that these materials are now challenging biological elements in terms of affinity/specificity by the creation of imprinted nanoparticles (MIP-NPs)—true antibody mimics. The very nature of the designed recognition of an imprint loans itself to the principle of drug delivery with interactions between the target (drug) and the monomers that form the binding pocket controllable. Imprinting was, for a while, limited to highly crosslinked materials, but recent advances have seen the field of molecularly imprinted hydrogels gain traction. Here, we consider these imprinted hydrogels and how they can be developed for targeted drug delivery.
Chester Blackburn, Mark V. Sullivan, Nicholas W. Turner, Chapter 3 – Molecularly imprinted hydrogels in drug delivery, Editor(s): Alejandro J. Paredes, Eneko Larrañeta, Garry Laverty, Ryan F. Donnelly, Hydrogels in Drug Delivery, Elsevier, 2025, Pages 85-112, ISBN 9780443220173, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-22017-3.00005-6.
Chapter 4
Peptide and protein-like hydrogels, synthesis, and applications in biomedicine
Peptide and protein therapies have led to revolutionary changes in the treatment and prevention of disease worldwide, including hypertension, diabetes, infection, and inflammatory disorders. This chapter will look at how one of nature’s most important building blocks can be utilized as an advanced hydrogel material with inherent drug delivery and biomaterial properties. Central themes covered include their synthesis and manufacture at both laboratory and industrial scale; regulatory aspects that inform their clinical translation and the benefits of peptides in the context of medicine and how these may be overcome using peptide-mimetic molecules. The chapter also looks at several important applications for hydrogel systems alongside challenges to their future development and use including within treatment of hormone dysfunction, cancer, as long-acting drug delivery systems and infection.
Garry Laverty, Chapter 4 – Peptide and protein-like hydrogels, synthesis, and applications in biomedicine, Editor(s): Alejandro J. Paredes, Eneko Larrañeta, Garry Laverty, Ryan F. Donnelly, Hydrogels in Drug Delivery, Elsevier, 2025, Pages 113-134, ISBN 9780443220173, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-22017-3.00013-5.
Chapter 6
Hydrogel-forming microarray patches for drug delivery and diagnostic applications
Hydrogel-forming microarray patches (HF-MAPs) are innovative microneedle-based devices capable of painlessly penetrating the skin’s outer layer, providing a platform for controlled and high-dose transdermal drug delivery. These MAPs, made from crosslinked polymers, feature a unique design that enables the absorption of interstitial fluid upon skin insertion, creating conduits between the microcirculation and drug reservoir situated on top of the MAP. The versatility of HF-MAPs extends to various drug delivery applications, including low molecular weight (MW) drugs and high molecular weight biotherapeutics. Fabricated using synthetic or natural polymers, HF-MAPs have shown promise in delivering a wide range of therapeutic agents, addressing challenges such as stability, biocompatibility, and mechanical strength. Manufacturing methods typically involve micromolding techniques, ensuring reproducibility and scalability. Moreover, HF-MAPs hold potential for interstitial fluid sampling, aiding in diagnostic applications. Future prospects include the development of wearable biosensing devices integrated with HF-MAPs, along with scale-up manufacturing of drug-loaded HF-MAPs for clinical trials. Continually addressing regulatory concerns and optimizing patient acceptability remain essential for the successful translation of HF-MAP technology into clinical practice.
Aaron R.J. Hutton, Qonita K. Anjani, Yara A. Naser, Ryan F. Donnelly, Chapter 6 – Hydrogel-forming microarray patches for drug delivery and diagnostic applications, Editor(s): Alejandro J. Paredes, Eneko Larrañeta, Garry Laverty, Ryan F. Donnelly, Hydrogels in Drug Delivery, Elsevier, 2025, Pages 221-239, ISBN 9780443220173, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-22017-3.00010-X.
Chapter 7
Injectable depot-forming hydrogels for long-acting drug delivery
Injectable hydrogels with depot-forming capabilities are at the forefront of smart biomaterial research due to their ability to address the limitations of traditional hydrogel-based drug delivery systems. Characterized by their exceptional versatility and applicability in a broad range of biomedical fields, these hydrogels offer notable improvements in clinical outcomes, ease of use, and patient compliance. Their unique properties, such as biodegradability and biocompatibility, allow for prolonged drug delivery, while their responsiveness to environmental stimuli like pH and temperature enables precise control over drug release. This makes them particularly effective for sustained drug delivery, accurate depot formation, and targeted therapy in difficult-to-reach tissues. With applications ranging from cancer therapy and wound healing to the treatment of chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ocular diseases, and infectious diseases, these injectable depot-forming hydrogels stand out for their potential to revolutionize drug delivery. This chapter provides an overview of recent advancements in the field, details of polymers that are used, highlighting the mechanisms of gelation, the synergistic interactions between polymers and drugs, and the controlled degradation of the hydrogel matrix. It also examines the benefits and future prospects of pH and temperature-sensitive hydrogels in achieving prolonged therapeutic effects. The broad applicability of these systems in managing various health conditions, as supported by recent research, is thoroughly discussed, underscoring their significance in modern medicine.
Lalitkumar K. Vora, B.H. Jaswanth Gowda, Shilpkala Gade, Anjali K. Pandya, Raghu Raj Singh Thakur, Chapter 7 – Injectable depot-forming hydrogels for long-acting drug delivery, Editor(s): Alejandro J. Paredes, Eneko Larrañeta, Garry Laverty, Ryan F. Donnelly, Hydrogels in Drug Delivery, Elsevier, 2025, Pages 241-272, ISBN 9780443220173, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-22017-3.00006-8.
See the full book here
Alejandro J. Paredes, Garry Laverty, Eneko Larrañeta, Ryan F. Donnelly, Hydrogels in Drug Delivery, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/C2023-0-00216-3, Published 2025, Elsevier
Read also the following article:
- Coming soon: Hydrogels in Drug Delivery – Part 2