title: Hydrogels for Therapeutic Delivery: Current Developments and Future Directions.
abstract: Hydrogels are attractive materials for the controlled release of therapeutics because of their capacity to embed biologically active agents in their water-swollen network. Recent advances in organic and polymer chemistry, bioengineering and nanotechnology have resulted in several new developments in the field of hydrogels for therapeutic delivery. In this Perspective, we present our view on the state-of-the-art in the field, thereby focusing on a number of exciting topics, including bioorthogonal cross-linking methods, multicomponent hydrogels, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, nanogels, and the release of therapeutics from 3D printed hydrogels. We also describe the challenges that should be overcome to facilitate translation from academia to the clinic and last, we share our ideas about the future of this rapidly evolving area of research.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomolecules Max Mousseron, Department of Artificial Biopolymers, Faculty of Pharmacy, UMR 5247, CNRS-University of Montpellier-ENSCM , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Sytze J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7145-5323
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Buwalda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University , Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6047-5900
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vermonden
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University , Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wim E
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5750-714X
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Hennink
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers