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In which of the following are hydrogels used ? 1. Controlled drug delivery in patients 2. Mobile air-conditioning systems 3. Preparation of industrial lubricants Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Explanation
The correct answer is option A (1 only).
Hydrogels have emerged as versatile and promising platforms for drug delivery[1], and pH-sensitive and/or temperature sensitive hydrogels can be used for site-specific controlled drug delivery[2]. Early PEG hydrogels were applied mostly as controlled drug delivery systems and as anti-adhesive biomaterials[3]. This clearly establishes that hydrogels are indeed used in controlled drug delivery in patients (Statement 1 is correct).
However, the provided sources contain no information supporting the use of hydrogels in mobile air-conditioning systems (Statement 2) or in the preparation of industrial lubricants (Statement 3). The one reference to mobile services in the documents relates to Internet of Things applications with sensors or drones, which is unrelated to hydrogels or air-conditioning systems.
Since only Statement 1 is verifiable and correct based on the available evidence, the answer is option A (1 only). For UPSC preparation, remember that hydrogels are primarily biomedical materials known for their high water content and applications in drug delivery, wound dressing, and tissue engineering.
Sources- [1] http://www.nanochemres.org/article_206449.html
- [3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0142961284900632
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question exposes the limits of static reading. You cannot find 'Mobile AC' in a standard book index under Hydrogels. You must derive the answer from the material's physics: Hydrogels absorb water → Water evaporation causes cooling → Used in ACs. It’s a test of scientific intuition, not memory.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"For this reason, either pH-sensitive and/or temperature sensitive hydrogels can be used for site-specific controlled drug delivery."
Why this source?
- Explicitly describes hydrogels as usable for site-specific controlled drug delivery.
- Mentions stimulus-responsive hydrogels (pH/temperature) which are applied for controlled release.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Early PEG hydrogels were applied mostly as controlled drug delivery systems and as anti-adhesive biomaterials."
Why this source?
- States historical and practical use of PEG hydrogels primarily as controlled drug delivery systems.
- Directly ties a class of hydrogels (PEG) to controlled drug delivery applications.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Chapter 11 - Advances in hydrogel-based controlled drug-delivery systems"
Why this source?
- Is a dedicated chapter title indicating advances in hydrogel-based controlled drug-delivery systems.
- Shows focused scholarly attention on hydrogels for controlled drug delivery, supporting their use in this application.
- Explicitly describes hydrogels as usable for site-specific controlled drug delivery.
- Mentions stimulus-responsive hydrogels (pH/temperature) which are applied for controlled release.
- States historical and practical use of PEG hydrogels primarily as controlled drug delivery systems.
- Directly ties a class of hydrogels (PEG) to controlled drug delivery applications.
- Is a dedicated chapter title indicating advances in hydrogel-based controlled drug-delivery systems.
- Shows focused scholarly attention on hydrogels for controlled drug delivery, supporting their use in this application.
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 9: The Amazing World of Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions > Our scientific heritage > p. 138
Strength: 4/5
“Water has primarily been used as a solvent for the preparation of medicinal formulations in Ayurveda, Siddha, and other traditional systems of medicine in India. Additionally, drug formulations have been prepared using hydro-alcoholic extracts of the herbs. The Indian systems of medicine have also referred to the use of oils, ghee, milk, and other substances as solvents for drug formulations, to help achieve the therapeutic benefits of the drug.”
Why relevant
Describes that different solvents/media (water, hydro-alcoholic extracts, oils, ghee, milk) have long been used as carriers for medicinal formulations.
How to extend
A student could generalize that drug delivery often relies on varied carrier media and therefore consider hydrogels as another carrier medium to investigate for controlled delivery.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.10 Generic Drugs and Compulsory Licenses > p. 389
Strength: 4/5
“Generic Drugs: A generic drug is a medication that has exactly the same active ingredient as the brand name drug and yields the same therapeutic effect. It is the same in dosing, safety, strength, quality, the way it works, the way it is taken, and the way it should be used. Generic drugs do not need to contain the same inactive ingredients as the brand name product, say colour or taste can be different. However, a generic drug is generally marketed after the brand name drug's patent has expired, which may take up to 20 years.”
Why relevant
Defines that generic drugs may differ in inactive ingredients while retaining the same active ingredient, highlighting the role of formulation/excipients in how a drug is delivered.
How to extend
Use this rule to explore whether hydrogels could function as a differing inactive matrix or excipient to modify release profiles in formulations.
Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Control and Coordination > QUESTIONS > p. 111
Strength: 3/5
“• 1. How does chemical coordination take place in animals?• 2. Why is the use of iodised salt advisable?• 3. How does our body respond when adrenaline is secreted into the blood?• 4. Why are some patients of diabetes treated by giving injections of insulin?”
Why relevant
Gives an example where patients (diabetics) are treated by injections of insulin, implying clinical need for controlled, timed, or route-specific delivery of therapeutics.
How to extend
Combine this clinical need with knowledge of delivery systems to ask whether hydrogels can provide sustained or controlled release alternatives to injections.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 13: Plant Diversity of India > 13"3.2. Medicinal properties > p. 199
Strength: 3/5
“Drosera are capable of curdling milk, its bruised leaves are applied on blisters, used for dyeing silk.
Nepenthes in local medicine to treat cholera patients, the liquid inside the pitcher is useful for urinary troubles, it is also used as eye drops.
Utricularia is useful against cough, for dressing of wounds, as a remedy for urinary disease.”
Why relevant
Notes traditional use of plant materials for topical treatments and wound dressing, showing historical precedent for using physical matrices/materials in therapeutic application.
How to extend
From this pattern, a student might investigate modern dressing materials (e.g., hydrogels) as matrices that can also release drugs at wound sites.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Drug Policy > p. 62
Strength: 2/5
“The salient features of the modified drug policy (1986) as announced on 15 September, 1994 are: • 1. Abolition of Industrial Licensing for all bulk drugs, their intermediates and formulations except five bulk drugs of the public sector.• 2. Foreign investment up to 51% will be automatically permitted in the case of bulk drugs, their intermediares and their formulations.• 3. Automatic approval for foreign technology agreements shall be given in case of all bulk drugs, their intermediares and formulations, except those produced by the use of recombinant DNA technology.• 4. Measures to give further impetus to R & D in the drug sector: • (a) Newly developed drugs would be put outside price control for a period of 10 years;”
Why relevant
Mentions policy measures to promote R&D in the drug sector and exceptions for recombinant DNA technology, indicating an environment that supports pharmaceutical innovation.
How to extend
A student could infer that novel delivery technologies (such as hydrogel-based systems) are plausible targets of contemporary pharmaceutical R&D to meet clinical needs.
Describes that different solvents/media (water, hydro-alcoholic extracts, oils, ghee, milk) have long been used as carriers for medicinal formulations.
A student could generalize that drug delivery often relies on varied carrier media and therefore consider hydrogels as another carrier medium to investigate for controlled delivery.
Defines that generic drugs may differ in inactive ingredients while retaining the same active ingredient, highlighting the role of formulation/excipients in how a drug is delivered.
Use this rule to explore whether hydrogels could function as a differing inactive matrix or excipient to modify release profiles in formulations.
Gives an example where patients (diabetics) are treated by injections of insulin, implying clinical need for controlled, timed, or route-specific delivery of therapeutics.
Combine this clinical need with knowledge of delivery systems to ask whether hydrogels can provide sustained or controlled release alternatives to injections.
Notes traditional use of plant materials for topical treatments and wound dressing, showing historical precedent for using physical matrices/materials in therapeutic application.
From this pattern, a student might investigate modern dressing materials (e.g., hydrogels) as matrices that can also release drugs at wound sites.
Mentions policy measures to promote R&D in the drug sector and exceptions for recombinant DNA technology, indicating an environment that supports pharmaceutical innovation.
A student could infer that novel delivery technologies (such as hydrogel-based systems) are plausible targets of contemporary pharmaceutical R&D to meet clinical needs.
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