The Functional Nanogel: An Exalted Carrier System

Abstract

Nanotechnology is widely growing field nowadays. Under these vast variety of carriers are available through which the drugs can be delivered to the affected organ. Nanogels are one of the most effective carrier systems for targeting the drugs directly to the diseased tissues with their highly adaptive properties. Nanogel can be defined as nanoparticles incorporated in hydrogel. These systems are very efficient in embodying drugs of diverse nature and also in enhancing their delivery and retention to the targeting organ. Due to their targeting properties they reduce the dose of drug required in free form and also reduces the side effects produced by accumulation of drugs to any other organ. This review highlights various types of nanogels, their advantages, most commonly used preparation techniques, biomedical applications, drug targeting through nanogels, drug loading and release through the nanogels. The review has also incorporated the recent patents related to the topic. However, there is an urgent need for relevant clinical data from nanogels so as to allow translation of the nanogel concept into a viable therapeutic application for the treatment of cancer.

Keywords: Nanogels, Polymers, Drug targeting, Hydrogel, Diagnosis.