Novel hydrophobically modified agarose cryogels fabricated using dimethyl sulfoxide

Drug delivery systems (DDS) are devices able to adsorb therapeutic drugs in vitro before being either injected or surgically implanted into the body before releasing the drugs in vivo. Hydrogels are interesting for DDS researchers as they mimic soft tissue and can absorb large quantities of liquid. This research reported the successful fabrication of hydrophobically modified agarose (HMA) as well as the creation of a novel approach to the formation of hydrophobically modified agarose cryogels. By activating the hydroxyl groups in agarose, hydrophobic modification could occur through the bonding of the activated hydroxyl groups and the amines in fatty aldehydes. It was found that HMA was insoluble in water, and as such a new method of cryogel creation was produced using dimethyl sulfoxide. Further testing of HMA cryogels showed that cell adhesiveness and cytotoxicity were low. Adsorption tests showed that HMA cryogels had the ability to adsorb larger amounts of hydrophobic dye than unmodified agarose cryogels and that the release of the hydrophobic dye from HMA cryogels could be controlled. These results showed that the HMA cryogels made using this novel approach have the potential to be used as drug delivery systems.