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Updated: Nov 4, 2025
Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
Polypseudorotaxane and polydopamine linkage-based hyaluronic acid hydrogel network with a single syringe injection
ChaeRim Hwang1, Song Yi Lee2, Han-Jun Kim3
1College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24341, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Polypseudorotaxane structure and polydopamine bond-based crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels including donepezil-loaded microspheres were developed for subcutaneous injection. Both dopamine and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were covalently bonded to the HA polymer for catechol polymerization and inclusion complexation with alpha-cyclodextrin (α-CD), respectively. A PEG chain of HA-dopamine-PEG (HD-PEG) conjugate was threaded with α-CD to make a polypseudorotaxane structure and its pH was adjusted to 8.5 for dopamine polymerization. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/donepezil microsphere (PDM) was embedded into the HD-PEG network for its sustained release. The HD-PEG/α-CD/PDM 8.5 hydrogel system exhibited an immediate gelation pattern, injectability through single syringe, self-healing ability, and shear-thinning behavior. Donepezil was released from the HD-PEG/α-CD/PDM 8.5 hydrogel in a sustained pattern. Following subcutaneous injection, the weight of excised HD-PEG/α-CD/PDM 8.5 hydrogel was higher than the other groups on day 14. These findings support the clinical feasibility of the HD-PEG/α-CD/PDM 8.5 hydrogel for subcutaneous injection.
