Stimuli-responsive DNA-based hydrogels for controlled drug delivery applications

Abstract

Adverse side effects from drugs being delivered to healthy tissue inside the body remain a persistent challenge within the medical field. Targeted drug delivery by use of stimuli-responsive DNA-based hydrogels emerge as a promising solution to this issue. These hydrogels can be used for a “smart” controlled drug delivery system that enables a drug to be delivered to a target location in a controlled amount by responding to an external stimulus. DNA hydrogels that respond to various non-biological and biological stimuli and their potential applications for targeted drug delivery are discussed in this paper.