Novel casein hydrogels: formation, structure and controlled drug release

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Developing biocompatible and non-toxic materials is crucial for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.
• Enzyme-assisted methods offer mild conditions for material synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the enzyme-assisted formation and structural characteristics of novel casein hydrogels.
• To evaluate the impact of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) on casein hydrogel properties.
• To assess the potential for drug delivery applications.

Main Methods:

• Dynamic rheology (oscillatory time sweep, stress relaxation) was used to study gelation kinetics and hydrogel strength.
• Fractal analyses were employed to characterize the network structure.
• Arrhenius plots were used to determine the activation energy of gelation.
• Vitamin B12 was used as a model drug to evaluate drug incorporation and release.

Main Results:

• Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) significantly shortened gelation time and enhanced hydrogel strength.
• The gelation process followed Arrhenius kinetics with an apparent activation energy of 95.4 kJ/mol.
• The casein hydrogel exhibited weak-link behavior and fractal characteristics, with increased fractal dimension indicating a tighter network structure.
• Vitamin B12 incorporation and prolonged release were achieved under mild conditions.

Conclusions:

• Enzyme-assisted formation using MTGase provides a robust method for developing strong casein hydrogels.
• The resulting hydrogels possess a well-defined fractal network structure suitable for controlled drug delivery.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for creating biocompatible materials for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.