Cyclodextrin-grafted chitosan hydrogels for controlled drug delivery.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) is a versatile biomaterial with potential in drug delivery.
• Incorporating cyclodextrin (CD) can enhance drug absorption and modify release profiles.
• Developing novel hydrogels with improved properties is crucial for advanced therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize β-cyclodextrin-grafted carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels (CD-g-CMCs).
• To investigate the effect of CD grafting on hydrogel structure and properties.
• To evaluate the potential of CD-g-CMCs for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) absorption and controlled release.

Main Methods:

• Hydrogel synthesis using carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), carboxymethyl β-chitosan (CMCD), and a water-soluble carbodiimide crosslinker.
• Structural characterization via FTIR and solid-state NMR spectroscopy.
• Morphological and rheological analysis using SEM and rheometry.
• In vitro evaluation of ASA absorption capacity and release kinetics.

Main Results:

• Successful preparation of CD-g-CMCs with varying degrees of CD grafting.
• Increased CD content correlated with enhanced ASA absorption.
• CD-g-CMCs demonstrated a slower release rate of ASA compared to unmodified CMC hydrogels.
• SEM and rheological data confirmed increased CD grafting within the hydrogel network.

Conclusions:

• CD-g-CMCs are successfully synthesized, exhibiting tunable properties based on CD content.
• The presence of β-cyclodextrin significantly enhances ASA absorption and provides controlled release capabilities.
• These novel hydrogels show promise as biodegradable active materials for controlled drug delivery applications.