title: Hydrogels as drug-delivery platforms: physicochemical barriers and solutions.
abstract: The properties of hydrogels, in particular their high biocompatibility and water sorption uptake, make hydrogels very attractive in drug delivery and biomedical devices. These favorable features of hydrogels are compromised by certain structural limitations such as those associated with their low mechanical strength in the swollen state. This review highlights the most important challenges that may seriously affect the practical implementation of hydrogels in clinical practice and the solutions that may be applied to overcome these limitations.
authors: Queen's University Belfast, School of Pharmacy, The Drug Delivery & Biomaterials Group, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
authors: Lamees B
authors: LB
authors: Alkayyali
authors: Osama A
authors: OA
authors: Abu-Diak
authors: Gavin P
authors: GP
authors: Andrews
authors: David S
authors: DS
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014867:Water