| Popis: |
Hydrogels are three-dimensional crosslinked networks of hydrophilic polymers, capable of absorbing large quantities of water or aqueous fluids. Polysaccharide-based hydrogels (PBHs) offer several advantages over their synthetic counterparts. Their natural origin contributes to their non-toxicity, high biocompatibility, andSuch versatile characteristics have potentiated the use of PBHs for the delivery of drugs, vaccines, proteinpeptide therapeutics, genes, cells, probiotics, bacteriophages, and other therapeutic agents. Recent advances in hydrogel-based formulations such as nanogels, microgels, microneedles, hydrogel beads, nanocarrier-loaded hydrogels, and complexation hydrogels have enabled the precise delivery of a wide range of therapeutics. This review aims to give a holistic overview of hydrogels in the delivery of a variety of therapeutics through different routes, which is seldom covered in other reviews.PBHs have been used to enable the oral delivery of vaccines and other biologicals, thereby allowing self-administration of life-saving vaccines, saving countless lives, especially during public health emergencies. There is a lack of commercialized wound dressings for the treatment of chronic wounds. PBH-based wound dressings, especially those based on chitosan and loaded with actives and growth factors have the potential to help in the long-term treatment of such wounds. Recent developments in the 3D printing of hydrogels can enable the quick and large-scale production of drug-loaded hydrogels. |
