Development of multifunctional hydrogels for the delivery of drugs and nutrients for patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Comprised of Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), it affects 6.8 million people globally. IBD is characterised by chronic relapsing inflammation in the GI tract. The exact pathogenesis is unknown, but incidence is increasing across westernised areas. Current treatments often don’t work or cause side effects. Therefore, more advanced, novel therapeutic treatments are required to help treat IBD patients