ABSTRACT
Hydrogels have found many applications in advanced drug delivery, due to their unique physical properties, which can be easily adapted for each particular purpose. The present chapter focuses on the exploitation of hydrogels for transdermal drug delivery, with particular emphasis on hydrogel-forming microneedles as an innovative way of enhancing permeation across the skin. Transdermal drug delivery is an attractive alternative route to conventional oral and parenteral preparations, due to the many benefits it offers, including avoidance of the gastrointestinal tract, sustained release and the opportunity to improve patient adherence. Transdermal administration of a wide range of conventional small molecule drugs and biotherapeutics has already been demonstrated via a hydrogel-forming microneedle platform, alongside applications in therapeutic drug monitoring. Using a hydrogel formulation for preparation of a microneedle device has great potential for both to yield tangible benefits for industry, healthcare providers and ultimately, patients.
