A Review on Polymers Used in In-Situ Gel Drug Delivery Systems

Author(s)

Shaikh, R.G., Shah, S.V., Patel, K.N., Patel, B.A., Patel, P.A.

Author's Affiliation

Abstract

In situ gel drug delivery systems are used in sol form before administration in the body, but once administered, undergo gelation in situ, to form a gel. The formation of gel depends on factors like temperature modulation, pH change, presence of ions and ultraviolet irradiation, electrical sensitivity, enzyme sensitive from which drug get released in a sustained and controlled manner. Typically, aqueous solutions of hydrogels used in biomedical applications are liquid at ambient temperature and gel at physiological temperature. The in situ gel forming polymeric formulations offer several advantages like sustained and prolonged action in comparison to conventional drug delivery systems. From a manufacturing point of view, the production of such devices is less complex and thus lowers the investment and manufacturing cost. This review stresses on the polymeric use of natural polymers and synthetic polymers.

Keywords

Natural Polymers, Synthetic Polymers, Sol to gel transformation, In-situ, Drug delivery

Cite This Article

Shaikh, R.G., Shah, S.V., Patel, K.N., Patel, B.A., Patel, P.A. (2012). A Review on Polymers Used in In-Situ Gel Drug Delivery Systems, International Journal for Pharmaceutical Research Scholars (IJPRS), 1(2), 17-34.