Hydrogel Formulations for Drug Delivery: A Scoping Review of Applications and Efficacy

Background/Objectives: Hydrogels are highly hydrated, biocompatible polymer networks increasingly investigated as drug-delivery systems (DDS) for analgesics. Their ability to modulate local release, prolong drug residence time, and reduce systemic toxicity positions them as promising platforms in perioperative, chronic, and localized pain settings. This scoping review aimed to systematically map clinical applications, efficacy, and safety of hydrogel-based DDS for analgesics, while also documenting non-DDS uses where the matrix itself contributes to pain modulation through physical mechanisms. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidance, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched without publication date restrictions. Only peer-reviewed clinical studies were included; preclinical studies and non-journal literature were excluded. Screening and selection were performed in duplicate. Data extracted included drug class, hydrogel technology, clinical setting, outcomes, and safety. Results: A total of 26 clinical studies evaluating hydrogel formulations as DDS for analgesics were included. Most were randomized controlled trials (69%), spanning 1996–2024. Local anesthetics (46%) were the most frequent drug class, followed by opioids (19%), corticosteroids, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and neuromodulators. Application sites were predominantly topical/transdermal and perioperative/incisional. Across the DDS cohort, 85% of studies reported improved analgesic outcomes, including reduced pain scores and lower rescue medication use; neutral or unclear results were rare. Safety reporting was limited but tolerability was generally favorable. Additionally, 38 non-DDS studies demonstrated pain reduction through hydrogel-mediated cooling, lubrication, or barrier effects, particularly in burns, ocular surface disorders, and discogenic pain. Conclusions: Hydrogel-based DDS for analgesics show consistent clinical signals of benefit across diverse contexts, aligning with their mechanistic rationale. While current evidence supports their role as effective, well-tolerated platforms, translational gaps remain, particularly for hybrid nanotechnology systems and standardized safety reporting. Non-DDS applications confirm the intrinsic analgesic potential of hydrogel matrices, underscoring their relevance in multimodal pain management strategies.