Carbon nanotubes used in new drug-release hydrogel system

by | Nov 27, 2012

Researchers have engineered an electro-responsive polymer hydrogel containing carbon nanotubes for drug delivery applications.

Drug release triggered from an external non-invasive stimulus is of great interest for the development of new drug delivery systems. Now, a new publication has announced the engineering of an electro-responsive polymer hydrogel containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes for pulsatile drug release.

This system combines the electro-sensitivity of a hydrogel matrix with the electrical conductivity of the carbon nanotubes for improved responsiveness to the electrical field, and illustrates the in vivo efficiency of an implanted electro-responsive carbon nanotube hydrogel hybrid capable of controlled and pulsatile drug release.

The development of such systems for electro-responsive drug delivery offers the possibility of delivering drug molecules in a controllable manner using short electrical stimulation times and therefore these systems have the potential to contribute to the personalized management of chronic illnesses that require multiple dosage regimes.

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