GASTRORENTENTIVE HYDROGELS RESPONSIVE TO EXTERNAL STIMULI FOR NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY

Abstract

Hydrogels, or water-swollen polymers, are three-dimensional networks of polymeric chains with a high capacity for holding water inside their structure. Because of this special quality, they are helpful in many applications, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and wound healing. Tissue engineering, controlled drug release, smart devices, and magnetic fields are all made possible by their sensitivity to temperature, ionic strength variations, electric fields, pH changes, magnetic fields, and ultrasounds. The interesting potential of stimuli-dependent hydrogels for gastroretentive drug delivery in the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) is examined in this review article. A new strategy is provided by stimuli-responsive hydrogels, which change their characteristics in response to particular GIT environment triggers like pH, enzymes, or pressure. The article explores a range of stimuli-dependent hydrogels, such as those that react to enzymes, pH, and other stimuli. Hydrogel's latest developments and their use in GIT medication delivery are also examined. Promising research on these innovative drug delivery systems is highlighted in the review. The paper also examines patents about stimuli-dependent hydrogels, offering information about the intellectual property environment surrounding this technology. In summary, hydrogel systems combine the targeted response to GIT stimuli with the controlled release properties of hydrogels to hold immense potential for improved drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy.