Abstract
Hydrogels are cross-linked hydrophilic polymer structures that imbibe large quantities of water or biological fluids. Hydrogels are an upcoming class of polymer-based controlled release drug delivery systems, embracing numerous biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Hydrogels are swellable polymeric materials, and are being widely investigated as a carrier for drug delivery systems. Besides exhibiting swelling-controlled drug release, hydrogels also show stimuli responsive changes in their structural network and hence leading to the drug release. The present manuscript is concerned with the classification, method of preparation; application in drug deliveryand FDA approved market products of hydrogels with the patent review on hydrogel composition and its manufacturing process. It also highlights recent advances in hydrogel drug delivery especially stimuli-responsive hydrogel and its patents. This patent review is useful in the synthesis methods of hydrogel drug delivery and its application.
Keywords: Biocompatible, biodegradable, cross-linking, grafting, in situ, injectable, thermosensitive.