ZnO nanorods functionalized with chitosan hydrogels crosslinked with azelaic acid for transdermal drug delivery

The growing number of people suffering from civilization diseases increases the amount of medication taken. Thus, novel methods for drug delivery must be developed which will constitute an alternative to oral administration. A new hope for patients bring transdermal drug delivery systems. To overcome skin barrier function, they must be prepared from materials which increase cell membrane permeability for the medication. Therefore, there is an increasing need for novel, advanced transdermal systems capable of controlled active substance release under specific stimuli. The aim of this research was to obtain novel hydrogel-based transdermal delivery systems through crosslinking process of chitosan using azelaic acid followed by doping with ZnO nanorods to enhance its drug sorption properties. Ready materials were investigated over their structure, morphology and durability. Drug loading capacity, controlled drug release ability and its kinetics were determined on medication used in treatment of cardiovascular system diseases - acetylsalicylic acid. Finally, lack of cytotoxicity was confirmed by XTT assay and cell morphology study carried out on L929 mouse fibroblasts. Obtained results show a great potential of the developed transdermal delivery systems in active substances administration through skin tissue and may help to protect digestive tract of the patients in the future.