Crosslinked poly(Lactose) microgels and nanogels for biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Lactose (LAC), a milk carbohydrate, possesses unique functional and nutritional properties making it attractive for biomedical applications.
• Designing functional interfaces using lactose-derived materials is an emerging area of research.
• The development of novel biocolloids from lactose is crucial for advancing drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize crosslinked poly(lactose) (p(LAC)) microgels for potential biomedical applications.
• To chemically modify p(LAC) microgels with ethylenediamine (EDA) to create amine-functionalized p(LAC)-EDA microgels with enhanced properties.
• To evaluate the blood compatibility and drug loading/release capabilities of the developed microgels.

Main Methods:

• p(LAC) microgels were synthesized via water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion crosslinking using DiVinyl Sulfone (DVS).
• p(LAC) microgels were chemically modified with ethylenediamine (EDA) to yield p(LAC)-EDA microgels.
• Blood compatibility was assessed using hemolysis and blood clotting tests.
• Drug loading and release studies were performed using Rosmarinic Acid (RA) as a model drug.

Main Results:

• p(LAC) microgels were successfully prepared with high yield (90±5%) and a size range of 0.5-50 µm.
• Chemical modification shifted the isoelectric point (IEP) from pH 1.8 (p(LAC)) to pH 7.7 (p(LAC)-EDA).
• Both p(LAC) and p(LAC)-EDA microgels demonstrated good blood compatibility up to 2 mg/mL, with minimal impact on blood clotting.
• p(LAC)-EDA microgels exhibited a linear release profile for Rosmarinic Acid (RA) over 4 days.

Conclusions:

• Crosslinked poly(lactose) microgels, particularly the amine-modified p(LAC)-EDA variant, are biocompatible and suitable for drug delivery applications.
• The facile synthesis and tunable properties of these lactose-based microgels offer significant potential for biomedical innovations.
• These novel biocolloids represent a promising platform for developing advanced drug delivery systems with controlled release kinetics.