Multifunctional alginate-based hydrogel with reversible crosslinking for controlled therapeutics delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Alginate hydrogels show promise for biomedical applications but lack precise control over properties.
• Achieving tunable and responsive characteristics is crucial for clinical translation of these materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize pH-responsive, anthracene-modified glycan-based hydrogels.
• To achieve precise control over hydrogel properties and enable selective therapeutic molecule release.

Main Methods:

• Hydrogels were synthesized via simultaneous photopolymerization and anthracene photodimerization.
• Anthracene incorporation allowed reversible control over crosslinking and gel/sol transitions.
• Drug-loaded hydrogels were tested in a cancer mimetic microenvironment at varying pH levels.

Main Results:

• Anthracene conjugation significantly increased hydrogel storage modulus, indicating enhanced mechanical properties.
• Hydrogels demonstrated pH-triggered release of doxorubicin, with 85% released at pH 2 over 6 days.
• Anthracene-conjugated hydrogels selectively reduced cancer cell viability with minimal toxicity to fibroblasts.

Conclusions:

• The developed hydrogels offer light-induced control of crosslink density and pH-triggered drug delivery.
• This approach provides a precise and tunable platform for advanced biomedical applications requiring multiple control mechanisms.