Temperature, pH and redox responsive cellulose based hydrogels for protein delivery.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cellulose-based hydrogels are valued for biocompatibility and natural origin.
• Stimuli-responsive hydrogels offer controlled material properties for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel pH, temperature, and redox-responsive hydrogels.
• To investigate the influence of composition and cross-linker type on hydrogel properties.
• To evaluate the in vitro release of lysozyme from the developed hydrogels.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of copolymeric (CP) and semi-interpenetrating network (SIPN) hydrogels using carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm).
• Utilized N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) and N,N'-bis(acryloyl)cystamine (CBA) as cross-linkers.
• Characterization via FTIR and SEM; swelling behavior and lysozyme release studies under varying conditions (pH, temperature, glutathione).

Main Results:

• CP hydrogels exhibited higher porosity and swelling than SIPNs.
• Swelling increased with CMC content for both hydrogel types.
• CBA-cross-linked hydrogels showed greater swelling than BIS-cross-linked ones.
• Lysozyme release was highest at low pH, low temperature, and in the presence of glutathione (GSH).

Conclusions:

• Developed stimuli-responsive hydrogels demonstrate tunable swelling and controlled drug release capabilities.
• The hydrogel architecture (CP vs. SIPN) and cross-linker choice significantly impact properties.
• These hydrogels show promise for smart drug delivery systems responsive to multiple stimuli.