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Cyclodextrin functionalized agarose gel with low gelling temperature for controlled drug delivery systems
Chulgu Kim1, Daham Jeong2, Seonmok Kim1
1Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Microbial Carbohydrate Resource Bank (MCRB), Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, South Korea.
Carbohydrate Polymers
|July 20, 2019
Summary
A novel beta-cyclodextrin functionalized agarose (CFA) hydrogel was developed with a significantly lower gelling temperature, enabling effective drug delivery. This non-cytotoxic CFA hydrogel shows promise for sustained release of therapeutics like doxorubicin.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Conventional agarose hydrogels possess high gelling temperatures, limiting their application in temperature-sensitive drug delivery.
- Developing novel hydrogel materials with tunable thermal properties is crucial for advanced therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize beta-cyclodextrin functionalized agarose (CFA) with a reduced gelling temperature.
- To evaluate the potential of CFA hydrogels for the delivery of therapeutic agents, including sustained release of doxorubicin.
Main Methods:
- Ethylenediamine-functionalized agarose was reacted with mono-succinyl beta-cyclodextrin to prepare CFA.
- Gelling and melting temperatures of CFA were determined and compared to conventional agarose.
- Drug loading and release studies were performed using bovine serum albumin and doxorubicin.
- Cytotoxicity assays were conducted to assess the biocompatibility of CFA.
Main Results:
- CFA exhibited a significantly decreased gelling temperature (26.7°C) and melting temperature (66.1°C) compared to native agarose (65°C and 95°C, respectively).
- CFA hydrogels facilitated both full release of bovine serum albumin and sustained release of doxorubicin via beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexation.
- Cytotoxicity tests confirmed that CFA is non-cytotoxic, and doxorubicin-loaded CFA retained its anti-cancer activity.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized CFA hydrogel offers a low-gelling temperature alternative to conventional agarose for drug delivery applications.
- CFA demonstrates potential as a versatile, non-cytotoxic hydrogel platform for the controlled release of various therapeutic drugs.
- This novel material opens new avenues for developing advanced hydrogel-based drug delivery systems.
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