Recent advances in polymeric hydrogel nanoarchitectures for drug delivery applications

Abstract

Hydrogels (HDG) are materials exhibiting versatile applications in varying fields such as the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. However, HDG are prone to inferior chemical, biological, electrical and mechanical features. In order to mitigate these deficiencies, the advent of nanotechnology has informed the inclusion of multifunctional nanoparticulates within HDG matrices to garnerior superior features. Thus, polymeric hydrogel nanoarchitectures (PHN) are amongst emerging category of new nano-hydrogels, fabricated through the incorporation of nanoparticulates, as a second phase within HDG, with enhanced and enchanting properties. For effective pharmaceutical applications, the prevalence of pores within the PHN is outstanding for drug delivery systems (DDS) because of the feasibility of conveying active entities and releasing them at a controlled rate through varying mechanisms. The outstanding behavior of PHN to up-take elevated levels of water transforms them to immune-tolerant nanomaterials thereby making them attractive for biologically affiliated applications, especially in field of pharmacy for drug delivery application. Therefore, this paper presents recently emerging advancements in drug delivery applications of PHN and HDG derivatives including macrogels microgels, and nanogels. Furthermore, magnetically responsive HDG, “smart” or “intelligent” HDG as DDS are also presented. They HDG materials preparation, characterization, properties and applications as DDS are elaborately elucidated as well.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Polymeric hydrogel nanoarchitectures
• nanogels
• macrogels
• microgels
• magnetically responsive HDG

Acknowledgements

Engr. Dr. Christopher Igwe Idumah of the Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria is acknowledged for persisting in dissemination of advanced polymeric nanocomposites knowledge despite no funding.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).