Polysaccharide-based implant drug delivery systems for precise therapy: Recent developments, and future trends

Implantable drug delivery systems offer numerous benefits, including effective drug administration at lower concentrations, fewer side effects, and improved patient compliance. Various polymers are used for fabricating implants, with biopolymers, particularly polysaccharides, being notable for their ability to modulate drug delivery characteristics. The review aims to describe the strategies employed in the development of polysaccharide-based implants and provide a comprehensive understanding of various polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose, alginate, chitosan, pullulan, carrageenan, dextran, hyaluronic acid, agar, pectin, and gellan gum in the fabrication of implant for targeted therapy. The review explores the biomedical applications of polysaccharide-based implantable devices, highlighting recent advancements in the development of these systems. Detailed discussions cover implants used in the oral cavity, nasal cavity, bone, ocular applications, and antiviral therapy. Additionally, regulatory considerations concerning implantable drug delivery are emphasized. The findings of the study show that polysaccharides can be used for the development of implants for drug delivery applications.