Smart Hydrogels: Mechanisms, Recent Developme...

Smart Hydrogels: Mechanisms, Recent Developments, and Potential in Drug Delivery System

Author Name : Vibha Mishra, Dr. Abadhesh Kumar Niranjan, Vaishnavi Sahu

ABSTRACT Smart hydrogels have emerged as a significant advancement in drug delivery systems due to their ability to respond to various environmental stimuli, such as temperature, pH, and light. These stimuli-responsive hydrogels undergo reversible physical or chemical changes, offering controlled and sustained drug release. Recent developments have focused on enhancing their application in topical drug delivery, particularly for localized treatment of skin conditions, wounds, and inflammatory disorders. Smart hydrogels can be formulated using a variety of natural, synthetic, and hybrid polymers, which impart them with biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and targeted drug release capabilities. Key mechanisms of action include pH-sensitive ionization, temperature-induced phase transitions, and light-triggered structural changes.