Hydrogel-Nanocomposite in Sustained Drug Release: Synthesis and Properties

Since biopolymer-based hydrogels are biocompatible, biodegradable, and can absorb and release pharmaceuticals, they have attracted much interest in biomedical applications as a drug delivery method. Drug-loaded hydrogel systems, which offer controlled release over an extended period, can be developed using biopolymer-based hydrogels as efficient carriers for medicinal molecules such as medicines and proteins. Drugs can diffuse through a hydrogel's porous structure, enabling prolonged and targeted delivery to the intended location. Hydrogels based on biopolymers have also proven a potent choice in several medicinal domains, such as treating infectious diseases and cancer. Novel controlled release drug delivery systems (DDS) like hydrogels and nanocomposites have recently received a lot of attention as they attempt to overcome disadvantages of conventional medications such as poor solubility, drug aggregation, low distribution, shortage of selectivity, low bioavailability, and lethal effects. This chapter will discuss the classification of hydrogels, methods of fabrication of hydrogels, and their applications in the drug delivery field. The chapter will also discuss the usage of hydrogel-nanocomposite for sustained drug release based on natural polymers such as xanthan gum, carrageenan, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, gelatin, alginate, and starch.