Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference 

October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota

Plant Seed Hydrogels for Impulse-Responsive Drug Delivery for Managing Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCCs)

Multimorbidity—defined as the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders—affects nearly one-third of the global adult population. Current therapeutic approaches rely on complex medication regimens, as no single drug can simultaneously target multiple conditions, often leading to poor adherence and suboptimal outcomes. To address this challenge, we propose the development of cost-effective, renewable drug carriers derived from plant-based materials capable of delivering multiple therapeutics concurrently. Smart drug delivery systems, particularly hydrogels, offer a promising platform due to their biocompatibility, tunable properties, and responsiveness to physiological stimuli. These three-dimensional polymeric networks are widely used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and implantable devices. Building on previous work with linseed and basil-derived hydrogels, which demonstrated stimulus-responsive drug release, this study aims to present a novel nanocomposite hydrogel fabricated from the mucilage of chia and quinoa seeds—natural polysaccharide-rich materials known for their high viscosity and biocompatibility. We describe the preparation and characterization of these hydrogels, highlighting their potential as a versatile platform for impulse-responsive, multi-drug delivery in patients with MCCs. The hydrogel will be functionalized to respond to biochemical signals associated with glucose and cholesterol, enabling targeted delivery for managing type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia.