title: Hydrogels with smart systems for delivery of hydrophobic drugs.
abstract: Smart hydrogel systems present opportunities to not only provide hydrophobic molecule encapsulation capability but to also respond to specific delivery routes. Areas covered: An overview of the design principles, preparation methods and applications of hydrogel systems for delivery of hydrophobic drugs is given. It begins with a summary of the advantages of hydrogels as delivery vehicles over other approaches, particularly macromolecular nanocarriers, before proceeding to address the design and preparation strategies and chemistry involved, with a particular focus on the introduction of hydrophobic domains into (naturally) hydrophilic hydrogels. Finally, the applications in different delivery routes are discussed. Expert opinion: Modifications to conventional hydrogels can endow them with the capability to carry hydrophobic drugs but other functions as well, such as the improved mechanical stability, which is important for long-term in vivo residence and/or self-healing properties useful for injectable delivery pathways. These modifications harness hydrophobic-hydrophobic forces, physical interactions and inclusion complexes. The lack of in-depth understanding of these interactions, currently limits more delicate and application-oriented designs. Increased efforts are needed in (i) understanding the interplay of gel formation and simultaneous drug loading; (ii) improving hydrogel systems with respect to their biosafety; and (iii) control over release mechanism and profile.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Australia.
authors.forename: Dunyin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6925-885X
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Australia.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: G H Qiao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Australia.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ladewig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: Hydrogels; drug delivery; hydrophobic domains; hydrophobic drugs