In Situ Forming Hydrogels for Post Resection Drug Delivery: Understanding Factors Governing Sustained Release

Cara Moloney – Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Nottingham; Maria Marlow – Associate Professor, University of Nottingham; Snow Stolnik – Professor of Pharmaceutics, University of Nottingham; Ruman Rahman – Professor of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, University of Nottingham; Cameron Alexander – Professor of Polymer Therapeutics, University of Nottingham

Introduction:

Long‑acting therapeutics provide prolonged drug exposure and, when delivered locally to the brain tumour resection site, can help overcome the limited permeability of the blood-brain barrier. In situ-forming hydrogels offer a promising strategy for sustained local drug delivery offering injectability and conformation to the shape of resection cavities. Understanding the drug-polymer and drug-drug interactions within the hydrogel matrix is essential for tuning the release behaviour to specific drugs and achieving sustained release.