FORMULATION THERMORESPONSIVE NANOCOMPOSITE HYDROGELWITH EMBEDDED PLGA NANOPARTICLES CONTAINING CYTOTOXIC AGENT

The aim of the study was to develop and characterize the nanocomposite in-situ hydrogel as local drug delivery system of cytotoxic agent. In-situ hydrogel consisting of 15% thermosensitive (Poloxamer 407) and 1% mucoadhesive (sodium alginate) polymers was selected as the optimal formulation by the conducted studies. The influence of nanoparticle concentration on gelation time and temperature has been experimentally established. As a result, the optimum concentration of nanoparticles (5%) is selected, which does not alter the gel forming process. The resulting nanocomposite hydrogel was characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rotational viscometer (LVDV-1T). FT-IR spectra confirmed the PLGA nanoparticles presence within the hydrogel matrix through the absorption peak located at 1750 cm-1. SEM images allowed observing the nanoparticles to be homogenously dispersed. The release pattern of the active substance from the nanocomposite hydrogel is following: at 72 h, 64% and 78% of the active substance were released into the phosphate buffer and cell culture area, respectively. Irritation test on hen's egg model revealed that formulated nanocomposite hydrogel did not show damage of vascular system.