Chitosan/PAMAM/Hydroxyapatite Engineered Drug Release Hydrogels with Tunable Rheological Properties

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Chitosan-based hydrogels are widely explored for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability.
• Controlled drug release systems are crucial for effective therapeutic outcomes and minimizing side effects.
• Hydroxyapatite incorporation can enhance osteoconductivity, making it relevant for bone tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel biodegradable chitosan-dendrimer-hydroxyapatite hydrogel.
• To investigate the drug release properties of the developed hydrogel using ketoprofen as a model anti-inflammatory drug.
• To explore the potential of this hydrogel as a scaffold for tissue engineering applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of chitosan-dendrimer-hydroxyapatite hydrogel via covalent grafting of chitosan with PAMAM dendrimer and in-situ hydroxyapatite precipitation.
• Characterization using FTIR, NMR, TGA, XRD, and rheological studies.
• In-vitro drug release studies with ketoprofen to evaluate release kinetics and tunable properties.

Main Results:

• Successful covalent functionalization of chitosan with PAMAM dendrimer and synthesis of nanostructured hydroxyapatite confirmed.
• The developed hydrogel exhibited tunable rheological and drug-releasing properties, influenced by dendrimer molecular weight.
• The hydrogel demonstrated controlled release of ketoprofen, showing potential for therapeutic applications.

Conclusions:

• The chitosan-dendrimer-hydroxyapatite hydrogel represents an innovative system with tunable properties for controlled drug delivery.
• This material effectively combines the osteoconductive properties of hydroxyapatite with the processability and drug-release characteristics of chitosan-dendrimer hydrogels.
• The developed hydrogel opens new avenues for biopolymeric scaffolds in tissue engineering, particularly for bone regeneration.