A Comprehensive Study on the Development of Stimuli-Responsive Smart Polymer Systems for Controlled Drug Delivery

A Study on Smart Polymer Materials and Their Role in Stimuli-Driven Controlled Drug Release Systems

The study highlights the promising applications of smart polymers in precision medicine, allowing for targeted therapeutic interventions that are more effective and less harmful to the body.

A Comprehensive Review on Engineering Release at the Molecular Level: Role of Functional Groups in Polysaccharide-Based Drug Delivery

A sophisticated blueprint for the next generation of nature-derived, “intelligent” biomaterials in cancer therapy is provided, providing a sophisticated blueprint for the next generation of nature-derived, “intelligent” biomaterials in cancer therapy.

Synthesis strategies and functional properties of polysaccharide hydrogels for controlled drug delivery applications.

INTRODUCTION Polysaccharide hydrogels have gained increasing attention as innovative platforms for controlled and stimuli-responsive drug delivery. Inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability and chemical versatility of these materials render them particularly well-suited for biomedical applications. Moreover, their ability to be engineered into 'smart' systems facilitates controlled release of therapeutic agents at target sites. This review summarizes recent advances in synthesis strategies and functional properties of polysaccharide hydrogels relevant for drug delivery. AREAS COVERED Mechanical tunability, responsiveness to physiological stimuli and affinity-based interactions are analyzed with regards to their impact on therapeutic efficacy. Key hurdles such as manufacturing scalability, reproducibility, regulatory compliance, challenge of balancing biodegradability with mechanical stability and controlled drug release are critically discussed. Proof-of-concept studies are highlighted spanning preclinical in vivo models, as well as early clinical trials exploring application in oncology, regenerative medicine and pain management. EXPERT OPINION Polysaccharide-based stimuli-responsive and multifunctional hydrogels represent highly promising platforms for controlled and targeted drug delivery. While recent advances in biofabrication and nanotechnology have significantly expanded their therapeutic potential, important challenges including scalability, reproducibility, and clinical translation, still need to be addressed. In particular, limited availability of long-term in vivo safety and efficacy data remains a major barrier to broader clinical application.

Modified starch-based nanocarriers for stimuli-responsive anticancer drug delivery: A combined bibliometric and systematic analysis

Starch-based nanocarriers have gained increasing attention as versatile platforms for controlled and stimuli-responsive anticancer drug delivery due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural adaptability. However, their comparative performance and translational potential remain inadequately understood. This study presents a hybrid bibliometric and systematic review to evaluate research trends, formulation strategies, and therapeutic applications of modified starch nanocarriers. Bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in Scopus (2000-2026) and Web of Science (1995-2026) revealed a rapidly expanding field, with an annual growth rate exceeding 10% and strong contributions from China, India, and Iran. A systematic review of 93 studies (2015-2025) demonstrated that chemical modifications, particularly hydroxyethyl starch-based systems, and hybrid polymer-nanomaterial formulations significantly enhance drug loading, stability, and controlled release. Stimuli-responsive mechanisms, including pH-, redox-, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-triggered systems, were widely employed to improve tumor-targeted delivery efficiency. Most systems demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency and enhanced in vitro anticancer efficacy with acceptable cytocompatibility. Despite these advances, limited in vivo validation, insufficient pharmacokinetic data, and variability in tumor microenvironment responsiveness remain major barriers to clinical translation. Future research should prioritize scalable design, standardized evaluation, and regulatory alignment to facilitate clinical application.

Development and Physicochemical Characterization of a pH and Thermo-Responsive Fusidic Acid-Loaded Polymeric Nanogel against Skin Infections

From Liquid to Gel: Multifunctional Stimuli-responsive Polymers for Targeted Oral Drug Delivery

Oral drug delivery is the delivery method of choice, as it is non-invasive and patients will comply with the delivery method, but many contemporary therapeutics, such as poorly soluble, permeable, and unstable drugs, fail because of rapid gastrointestinal absorption, enzyme degradation, and non-targetability. The in-situ gelling systems are now considered paradigms that no longer exist as liquids; instead, they form a depot in the gastrointestinal tract and transform into a gel in response to physiological signals such as pH, ions, or enzymes. This review will discuss how these so-called smart polymers have developed over the years, starting as simple gel-forming systems and evolving into the multifunctional platforms that are also designed to have a pointed and sustained action. Next generation in situ gels combine bioadhesion, permeation enhancement, and active targeting ligands to overcome sequential barriers to delivery transit, permeability, stability, and cellular uptake. We critically assess the chemistry, mechanisms, formulation strategies, and therapeutic use of these systems, including gastro-retention and localized therapy, as well as oral delivery of biologics. Despite encouraging preclinical results, we touch on translational issues of scalability, manufacturing, and regulatory pathways. Multifunctional stimuli-responsive polymers, which actively traverse the gastrointestinal environment, are the future of oral drug delivery because they provide precision, bioavailability, and improved patient outcomes.