Hydrogels as Controlled Drug Delivery System: A Brief Review of Properties Classification and Synthesis

Abstract

Hyrogels are cariers of novel drug delievry system and these polymeric network have ability to hold large amount of water but they do not dissolve in water .These polymeric network may be crosslinked either through chemical or physical crosslinking method. Without changing their three dimensional structure hydrogels undergo the swelling mechanism Hydrogels are used as drug delivery carriers because of their distinctive properties. They have three dimensional configurations and have water soluble cross linked network of polymers .Hydrogels have porous structure and by changing the cross linker concentration we can modify their affinity for water. Because of their unique properties these are used for various medical purposes like cellular immobilization , tissue engineering ,diagnostics and regenerative medicines.