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Updated: May 14, 2026

Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
Hemicellulose-based pH-sensitive and biodegradable hydrogel for controlled drug delivery
Xiao-Feng Sun1, Hai-hong Wang, Zhan-xin Jing
1MOE Key Lab of Applied Physics and Chemistry in Space, College of Science, Northwestern Polytechnic University, Xi'an 710072, China. xf001sn@nwpu.edu.cn
Wheat straw hemicellulose hydrogels offer controlled drug delivery. These pH-responsive biomaterials demonstrate tunable swelling, degradation, and drug release for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials for drug delivery.
- Hemicellulose, a plant-derived polysaccharide, presents an underutilized resource for novel hydrogel development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize novel hemicellulose-based hydrogels from wheat straw.
- To evaluate their potential as controlled drug delivery carriers.
Main Methods:
- Hydrogel preparation using wheat straw hemicellulose.
- Characterization via Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
- Assessment of swelling behavior, swelling kinetics, degradation, and in vitro drug release.
Main Results:
- Hemicellulose hydrogels exhibited pH-responsive swelling.
- Swelling kinetics followed Fickian diffusion at pH 1.5 and a combined diffusion-relaxation mechanism at pH 7.4 and 10.0.
- Biodegradability was influenced by hemicellulose content and crosslinking density; drug release depended on hydrogel properties and drug characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Wheat straw hemicellulose hydrogels are promising for controlled drug delivery.
- Their tunable properties make them suitable for various biomedical applications.
- This study highlights the potential of agricultural byproducts in advanced material development.
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