Title
Naturally occurring swellable polysaccharides-based stimuli-responsive smart tablets – a new window of opportunity
Authors
MUHAMMAD AJAZ HUSSAIN and MUHAMMAD TAHIR HASEEB

Received October 28, 2023
Published Volume 58 Issue 3-4 March-April
Keywords hydrogels, biopolymers, polysaccharides, pH-responsive materials, smart tablets, on-off swelling, intelligent drug delivery

Abstract
Currently, synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers are widely used in the development of various drug delivery systems (DDSs), biomedical and surgical devices, and healthcare materials. However, many drawbacks and problems are associated with these polymeric materials, including toxicity, immunogenicity, non-biodegradability, non biocompatibility, and complicated, costly synthesis. To address such drawbacks, nowadays, naturally occurring swellable polysaccharides (NOSPs) are being evaluated for the possible replacement of synthetic polymers. NOSPs have shown remarkable stimuli-responsive properties, which made them an ideal material to develop stimuli-responsive DDSs, especially “smart tablets”. The present review focuses on the summarization of stimuli-responsive properties (swelling, on-off switching, and drug release) of smart/stimuli-responsive tablets that respond to various stimuli, e.g., pH, solvent, transit, time, etc. This article highlights the need to develop NOSPs-based smart tablets for intelligent and targeted drug delivery.