Clinical translation of injectable hydrogels: from bioactive polymers to long-acting drug delivery systems

Injectable hydrogels (IHs) have emerged as versatile biomaterials that enable localized therapy through minimally invasive delivery. Their in situ sol–gel transition supports sustained and targeted release of therapeutics, enhancing patient comfort and reducing dosing frequency. However, clinical tr...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Carballo Pedrares, Natalia, Martín Giménez, Virna Margarita, Alonso Fernández, María José
Tipo de documento: artigo
Data de publicação:2026
País:España
Recursos:Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC)
Repositório:Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Idioma:inglês
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:minerva_____::48801f2703bd48fe9f524a3d55318e2d
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46776
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Biomaterials
Injectable hydrogels
Drug delivery systems
Clinical translation
Personalized medicine
3209 Farmacología
Descrição
Resumo:Injectable hydrogels (IHs) have emerged as versatile biomaterials that enable localized therapy through minimally invasive delivery. Their in situ sol–gel transition supports sustained and targeted release of therapeutics, enhancing patient comfort and reducing dosing frequency. However, clinical translation remains limited due to challenges in achieving controlled degradation, ensuring long-term biocompatibility, scaling production, and meeting regulatory standards. Despite these hurdles, several IH-based formulations are progressing through clinical trials or have reached the market, underscoring their therapeutic potential. This review examines the major translational barriers and highlights recent advances that are accelerating the adoption of IHs in precision and personalized medicine.