Polymeric hydrogels as technology platform for drug delivery applications

Hydrogels have become key players in the field of drug delivery owing to their great versatility in terms of composition and adjustability to various administration routes, from parenteral (e.g., intravenous) to non-parenteral (e.g., oral, topical) ones. In addition, based on the envisioned application, the design of bioadhesive or mucoadhesive hydrogels with prolonged residence time in the administration site may be beneficial. For example, hydrogels are used as wound dressings and patches for local and systemic therapy. In a similar way, they can be applied in the vaginal tract for local treatment or in the nasal cavity for a similar goal or, conversely, to target the central nervous system by the nose-to-brain pathway. Overall, hydrogels have demonstrated outstanding capabilities to ensure patient compliance, while achieving long-term therapeutic effects. The present work overviews the most relevant and recent applications of hydrogels in drug delivery with special emphasis on mucosal routes.