Temperature-responsive chitosan and gelatin hydrogels could combine sustained drug delivery with acupuncture-point stimulation for adaptable veterinary treatments.
This review evaluated chitosan and gelatin thermosensitive hydrogels by synthesizing evidence on their injectability, body-temperature-triggered gel formation, mechanical strength, tissue compatibility, biodegradation, drug-loading and release capacity, adhesion, antibacterial properties, and responsiveness to acidity, oxidative conditions, and enzymes. It then assessed their suitability as injectable materials for veterinary acupuncture-point embedding and considered potential applications across several animal diseases.
The review suggests these hydrogels may address major limitations of traditional embedded materials by providing more predictable degradation, improved compatibility with tissues, and local drug delivery alongside prolonged acupuncture-point stimulation. Their adjustable gelation and degradation properties could support use across animal species with different physiological temperatures, while their adhesive and responsive characteristics may help retain treatment locally and release medicines under disease-relevant conditions.
