Advances in the Design of Phenylboronic Acid-Based Glucose-Sensitive Hydrogels

Diabetes, characterized by an uncontrolled blood glucose level, is the main cause of blindness, heart attack, stroke, and lower limb amputation. Glucose-sensitive hydrogels able to release hypoglycemic drugs (such as insulin) as a response to the increase of the glucose level are of interest for researchers, considering the large number of diabetes patients in the world (537 million in 2021, reported by the International Diabetes Federation). Considering the current growth, it is estimated that, up to 2045, the number of people with diabetes will increase to 783 million. The present work reviews the recent developments on the hydrogels based on phenylboronic acid and its derivatives, with sensitivity to glucose, which can be suitable candidates for the design of insulin delivery systems. After a brief presentation of the dynamic covalent bonds, the design of glucose-responsive hydrogels, the mechanism by which the hypoglycemic drug release is achieved, and their self-healing capacity are presented and discussed. Finally, the conclusions and the main aspects that should be addressed in future research are shown.