Simultaneous and controlled release of two different bioactive small molecules from nature inspired single material

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Simultaneous controlled release of multiple drugs from a single matrix is a significant challenge in drug delivery.
• Existing methods struggle with efficacy and drug resistance, necessitating innovative solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a biocompatible polymeric material for tunable, simultaneous co-release of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs.
• To investigate the potential of nature-inspired wettability for controlling drug release kinetics and efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a single-polymer biocompatible material via one-step covalent gelation, enabling tunable water wettability.
• Post-loaded doxorubicin (anticancer) and tetracycline (antibacterial) into the material from various organic solvents.
• Monitored simultaneous drug release over six months and assessed bioactivity against cancer cells and microorganisms.

Main Results:

• The material exhibited durable, nature-inspired wettability and facilitated simultaneous co-release of doxorubicin and tetracycline for over six months.
• Drug release rates were successfully tuned by controlling the material's water wettability, ranging from hours to months.
• Released drugs retained bioactivity, effectively inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and microbial growth.

Conclusions:

• A facile method for creating a multifunctional drug release system with tunable, long-term co-release of multiple drugs was demonstrated.
• This biomimetic approach offers a promising platform for advanced biomedical applications, addressing challenges like drug resistance and improving therapeutic efficacy.