Preparation and evaluation of novel hydrogel based on polysaccharide isolated from Bletilla striata

Natural polysaccharides are highly valued and extensively applied in drug delivery system for their desirable physical properties and unique bioactivities. In this work, natural polysaccharides from Bletilla striata (BSP) were successfully extracted and incorporated with Carbopol 940 to prepare hydrogels. Rheological behavior, skin permeation properties and bioactivities of the BSP hydrogels were evaluated. The rheological test showed the better viscoelasticity and physical strength of BSP gels from Carbopol gel. The scanning laser confocal microscope (CLSM) and the trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) examinations indicated that the BSP hydrogels significantly improved skin permeability. The improvement directly related with the BSP concentration in the gels. Atomic force microscope (AFM) examinations revealed that the BSP hydrogels modified the surface properties of corneocytes and resulted in the promotion effect. Furthermore, bioactivity evaluations indicated the hemostatic activates of BSP hydrogels. In conclusion, this work demonstrates the skin permeation enhancement and plasma coagulation effects of BSP hydrogels, which show great potential in transdermal drug delivery system and wound dressing.