Photocrosslinkable biodegradable responsive hydrogels as drug delivery systems

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Controlled release from biocompatible materials is crucial for biomedical applications.
• Dextran-based glucopyranosides are promising due to biocompatibility and biodegradability.
• Regulating rheological properties and release efficiency is key for dextran applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize graft polymer hydrogels from dextran and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm).
• To investigate the potential of these hydrogels for controlled drug release applications.
• To evaluate the influence of temperature on drug release profiles.

Main Methods:

• Graft polymer hydrogels synthesized by modifying dextran with 2-isocyanatoethylmethacrylate (IEMA) and UV crosslinking.
• Characterization using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and contact angle measurements.
• Drug (Ondansetron) encapsulation and release studies at 25°C and 37°C, alongside swelling behavior and Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) determination.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of dextran-NIPAAm graft polymer hydrogels with urethane linkages.
• Characterization confirmed the successful modification and crosslinking of the polymer structure.
• Ondansetron release profiles were determined, showing temperature-dependent release behavior.

Conclusions:

• Dextran-NIPAAm graft polymer hydrogels are viable biocompatible materials for controlled drug delivery.
• The developed hydrogels offer tunable properties suitable for biomedical applications.
• Further research can explore optimization for specific therapeutic needs.