Hydrogels in pharmaceutical formulations.

Photopolymerizable hydrogels for tissue engineering applications.

Polymers that can respond to external stimuli are of great interest in medicine, especially as controlled drug release vehicles. In this critical review, we consider the types of stimulus response used in therapeutic applications and the main classes of responsive materials developed to date. Particular emphasis is placed on the wide-ranging possibilities for the biomedical use of these polymers, ranging from drug delivery systems and cell adhesion mediators to controllers of enzyme function and gene expression (134 references).

Stimuli responsive polymers for biomedical applications

Mucus-penetrating nanoparticles for drug and gene delivery to mucosal tissues.

Hydrogels in controlled release formulations: network design and mathematical modeling

Poly(ethylene glycol)-containing hydrogels in drug delivery.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) star polymer hydrogels were prepared by γ-irradiation of aqueous solutions of star PEG polymers The swelling behavior of these gels in deionized water at 37 °C indicated that the gels prepared from PEG star polymers with a small number of long arms swelled to a greater extent than those prepared from PEG star polymers with a large number of short arms PEG star polymers and branched PEG polymers were modified to incorporate acrylate groups on the ends of the polymer arms These acrylated star or branched polymers were copolymerized with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate in the presence of UV light The ensuing materials swelled to a greater extent than hydrogels prepared without acrylated star or branched PEG polymers Number-average molecular weights were calculated using several rubber elasticity-based theories

Kelley Britton Keys

Papers

Poly(ethylene glycol)-containing hydrogels in drug delivery.

Poly(ethylene glycol) star polymer hydrogels