Insight into the Gamma Radiation-Assisted Hydrogel Preparation, Characterization and Application in Drug Delivery

In recent years, polymeric hydrogels have become one of the most popular research topics worldwide. Its popularity is increasing daily in many fields of study, such as adsorption, drug delivery, agriculture, biomedical engineering, electronics, sensors, etc. Superabsorbent hydrogels can retain extra large amounts of water in their structure. There are several types of methods for preparing hydrogels. Gamma radiation can make purer, germ-free, biodegradable, and biocompatible hydrogels. These hydrogels also have a better gel fraction, equilibrium swelling, self-healing, mechanical, and other properties. This article primarily discusses the use of gamma radiation to create hydrogels from various monomers and natural or synthetic polymers, describes these adducts, and discusses the potential applications of these hydrogels in drug delivery. The different types, properties, and applications of hydrogels have been analyzed. The study highlights the advantages of the gamma radiation method over other radiation (UV and microwave) and solution methods for hydrogel preparation. Previous research predicted that the gamma radiation method is simple, time-saving, and deep-penetrating into the condensed solution, making it suitable for hydrogel preparation. This review discusses the advantages, disadvantages, and prospects.