Hydrogel-based Drug Delivery System Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Polymer Origin (Natural, Synthetic, Hybrid), By Delivery Route, By Region, And Segment Forecast, 2024 - 2030

Market Size & Trends

The global hydrogel-based drug delivery system market size was estimated at USD 7.41 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2024 to 2030. Factors attributing to the projected growth include rising new cases of chronic wounds, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, and advancements in scientific fields such as tissue regeneration and cell development. Due to the growing inclination towards controlled release drug delivery over conventional systems, hydrogels are widely used for achieving controlled drug release of incorporated drugs.

Due to their immense biocompatibility, physiochemical tolerability, and drug protection, hydrogels are used for controlled and targeted drug delivery. Furthermore, these properties of hydrogels are useful in encapsulating proteins and nucleic acids, contributing to increasing innovations in hydrogel-based drug delivery systems. Hydrogels are preferred drug carriers due to features such as easy production and self-application.

In recent years, the hydrogel-based drug delivery systems market has experienced increasing investment in R&D in search of innovative drug delivery methods and diagnostics. Development in polymer science has led to the formation of biopolymers that provide a biocompatible and biodegradable framework for hydrogels, promoting their usage inefficient and targeted drug delivery. Therefore, there has been a noteworthy rise in enhancements in R&D activities.

Polymer Origin Insights

Synthetic Hydrogels dominated the market and accounted for a share of 48.9% in 2023. Hydrogel polymer origins are classified into natural, synthetic, and hybrid. A hydrogel-based drug delivery system is made from synthetic polymers as they have higher drug absorbing capacity, improved mechanical capacity, and enhanced lifetime. Some of the widely used synthetic polymers in drug delivery applications are polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA).

The natural polymers segment is expected to experience a CAGR of 7.2 % from 2024 to 2030. Natural polymers such as xanthan gum, alginate, pectin, dextran, and chitosan are increasingly being explored due to their nontoxicity, easy availability, and biodegradability characteristics. Extensive research is being undertaken to investigate the definite applications of natural polysaccharides in drug delivery, which is expected to drive demand for this segment during the forecast period.

Delivery Route Insights

The hydrogel-based ocular drug delivery systems accounted for the largest revenue share in 2023. A growing number of people impacted by ophthalmic disorders and problems has developed a need for more effective drug delivery systems, as limitations such as low ocular bioavailability are identified in conventional systems. This has encouraged a lot of research and development in this domain, which has resulted in new product developments and innovation. These factors have generated growth for this segment in recent years.

The topical hydrogel segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR from 2024 to 2030. Administering drugs topically is an efficient and affordable way to provide therapeutic substances to specific areas. Novel hydrogels have broad applications in treating pediatric, geriatric, and pregnant patients. These consist of nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, micro emulsions, liposomes, self-nano emulsifying drug delivery systems, cubosomes, and similar structures. Therefore, R&D in this drug delivery system is a key factor for market growth.

Regional Insights

North America hydrogel-based drug delivery systems market dominated the industry and accounted for a revenue share of 43.3% in 2023. The primary factors responsible for this largest revenue share are positive reimbursement scenarios that cover the cost of modern treatments, the presence of local hydrogel suppliers in the region, and the novel offerings introduced by key companies operating in the region. For instance, in December 2021, the American biopharmaceutical company Dare Bioscience announced that clinical trials aimed at delivering medication (clindamycin phosphate 2%) via bio-adhesive hydrogel for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, a condition that affects approximately 21 million women in the US, had yielded promising results.

U.S. Hydrogel-based Drug Delivery System Market Trends

The U.S. hydrogel-based drug delivery system market held the largest revenue share of 81.7% in 2023. This is primarily due to several key companies and major pharmaceutical industry participants in the country. In addition, growing investment in R&D in the U.S. has resulted in innovation and new product development, which is expected to propel growth in the coming years.

Europe Hydrogel-based Drug Delivery System Market Trends

The hydrogel-based drug delivery system market in Europe was identified as a lucrative region for this industry. Increased research on improving hydrogel-based protein delivery and a rise in investment in developing newer hydrogel-based drug delivery solutions are key factors driving this growth. In 2023, the European Union funded one of the research studies on hydrogel, a study on bionic muscles (BM) that imitates the operation of animal muscles created using a 3D printable and biocompatible hydrogel-colloid hybrid. These efforts are expected to bring about new hydrogel-based drug delivery systems and are projected to grow the market.

The Germany hydrogel-based drug delivery system market is expected to experience significant growth from 2024 to 2030. This is primarily due to enhanced research and development activities needed to develop novel drug delivery systems. The research is primarily related to tumor therapy and the uninterrupted delivery of anti-infective while dealing with biological barriers.

Asia Pacific Hydrogel-based Drug Based Delivery System Market Trends

The hydrogel-based drug delivery system market in the Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness noteworthy growth from 2024 to 2030 owing to a large target population, increased accessibility of the healthcare industry, rising demand for improved medical care in various therapeutic fields, and a growing emphasis on lowering healthcare expenses.

China hydrogel-based drug delivery market is expected to grow rapidly from 2023 to 2030, owing to increasing investments by global companies in China’s pharmaceutical industries searching for novel diagnostics and drug delivery systems. In addition, the growing prevalence of health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been generating greater demand for advanced drug delivery technologies.

Key Hydrogel-based Drug Based Delivery System Company Insights

Some key companies in the market include GALDERMA; Blairex Laboratories, Inc.; Johnson & Johnson; Bausch + Lomb; Medtronic; and Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. Vendors in the market are focusing on increasing their customer base to gain a competitive edge in the industry. Therefore, key players are taking several strategic initiatives, such as mergers and acquisitions, and partnerships with other emerging and prominent industry participants.

• Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in creating, advancing, and marketing new treatments for eye disorders. It employs its own bioresorbable hydrogel-based formulation technology, ELUTYX. The company has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts.

• Blairex Laboratories, Inc., a global pharmaceutical company, delivers products related to the consumer and pharmaceutical industry. Some of the company's major offerings are sterile saline solutions and contact lens care.

Recent Developments

• In July 2023, Bausch + Lomb introduced infuse multifocal silicone hydrogel contact lenses in the U.S. market. Adopting silicone hydrogel (SiHy) lessens exchanges between oxygen permeability and wettability, which assists consumers in long-term usability.

Hydrogel-Based Drug Delivery Market Scope

Global Hydrogel-based Drug Delivery System Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2024. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global hydrogel-based drug delivery system market report based on polymer origin, delivery route, and region:

• Polymer Origin Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Natural

  • Synthetic

  • Hybrid

• Delivery Route Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Subcutaneous

  • Ocular

  • Oral Cavity

  • Topical

  • Other

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • Thailand

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • Kuwait