Recent advances in the role of supramolecular hydrogels in drug delivery

Abstract

Introduction: Supramolecular hydrogels, formed by noncovalent crosslinking of polymeric chains in water, constitute an interesting class of materials that can be developed specifically for drug delivery and biomedical applications. The biocompatibility, stimuli responsiveness to various external factors, and powerful functionalization capacity of these polymeric networks make them attractive candidates for novel advanced dosage form design.

Areas covered: This review summarizes the significance of supramolecular hydrogels in various biomedical and drug delivery applications. The recent advancement of these hydrogels as potential advanced drug delivery systems (for gene, protein, anticancer and other drugs) is discussed. The importance of these hydrogels in biomedical applications, particularly in tissue engineering, biosensing, cell-culture research and wound treatment is briefly described.

Expert opinion: The use of supramolecular hydrogels in drug delivery is still in very early stages. However, the potential of such a system is undeniably important and very promising. A number of recent studies have been conducted, which mainly focus on the use of cyclodextrin-based host–guest complex as well as other supramolecular motifs to form supramolecular hydrogels for delivery of various classes of drugs, therapeutic agents, proteins and genes. However, there are still plenty of opportunities for further development in this area for drug delivery and other biomedical applications.

Keywords:

• advanced drug delivery systems
• cyclodextrin
• drug delivery
• host−guest inclusion complex
• supramolecular hydrogels

Declaration of interest

The authors were supported by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Research University Grant: DPP-2014-123). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Notes

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