Hydrogel Nanostructures for Targeted Drug Delivery in Inflammatory Diseases: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

In the treatment of inflammatory illnesses, hydrogel nanostructures have shown themselves to be a flexible and promising substrate for targeted drug delivery. The biocompatibility, biodegradability, and controlled, localised drug release capabilities of these systems are highly regarded because they minimise systemic adverse effects and improve therapeutic efficacy. Systems based on hydrogel may be made to react to environmental cues like pH, temperature, or enzymatic activity that are frequently present in inflammatory tissues. Treatment results are improved by this responsiveness, which enables precise medication release at the location of inflammation. Targeting ligands, including peptides or antibodies, are added to improve the efficiency and specificity of medication delivery. By selectively binding to markers produced in inflammatory tissues, these ligands allow hydrogel nanostructures to improve medication accumulation at the intended region while minimising off-target effects. These developments might have a significant impact on diseases including psoriasis, inflammatory bowel illness, and rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical translation is nevertheless hampered by issues including stability, consistent biocompatibility, and manufacturing scalability, despite their potential. These restrictions should be solved by upcoming developments including combination medicines, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, and personalised medicine strategies. By providing more accurate control over medication distribution, these tactics may allow for patient-specific therapies and enhance overall results. A potential strategy for creating patient-centered, long-lasting, and efficient treatments for chronic inflammatory illnesses is the use of hydrogel nanostructures. These systems have the potential to revolutionise the treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases by tackling present issues and utilising creative design techniques.