Chapter 7 - Synthesis of hydrogels and their emerging role in pharmaceutics

Abstract

Hydrogels are more perplexing brilliant polymers with various sorts of ligands and cross-connections that are in charge of their exceptionally controlled structures and distinctive bioresponsive functionalities. Huge advancement has been made over the previous decades in the field of hydrogels as useful biomaterials. Rising learning in hydrogel sciences and expanded comprehension of organic procedures brought about the outline of adaptable materials and negligibly intrusive treatments. Hydrogel frameworks involve an extensive variety of characteristic and engineered polymers held by cross-links either through physical or chemical means. A few intriguing atomic components control the flexible properties of hydrogels. Hydrogel items are formed by assembly of polymeric materials, the hydrophilic structure that help them in retaining a lot of water in their three-dimensional systems. Hydrogels are of prime importance due to their unique work in various mechanical and ecological zones, as hydrogels are synthesized from plants and have become very widespread due to their exclusive properties such as softness, high water content, flexibility, and biocompatibility. This chapter will begin with introduction, importance, different types of hydrogels, and so on toward various applications of hydrogels, as hydrogels have various applications in nanotechnology due to their many favorable characteristics. Applications of hydrogels include drug delivery, cell carriers, manufacturing contact lenses, and tissue engineering. As hydrogels contain high water content, this increase of water content make it companionable with living tissues, while their elastic nature reduces damage to the adjacent tissues. Hydrogels are the swellable polymeric materials and have been generally utilized as the carrier for drug delivery systems. They are also extensively used nowadays in dressing of wounds, manufacturing contact lenses, hygiene products, etc. The objective of my work is to explore more interesting applications of hydrogels related to nanotechnology as their resemblance to living tissues opens up new opportunities for applications in biomedical areas.