β-Cyclodextrin Modified Hydrogels of Kappa-Carrageenan for Methotrexate Delivery

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Pharmaceutics

Background:

• Methotrexate (MTX) is a crucial drug with limited topical delivery options.
• Carrageenan hydrogels offer potential for topical drug delivery but require optimization for drug loading and release.
• Beta-cyclodextrin (βCD) can form inclusion complexes, enhancing drug solubility and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop kappa-carrageenan (kCR) hydrogels with enhanced methotrexate (MTX) loading and controlled release.
• To investigate the impact of beta-cyclodextrin (βCD) on the rheological properties and drug release kinetics of kCR gels.
• To compare the MTX-loading and release characteristics of kappa-carrageenan versus iota-carrageenan gels.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of kCR hydrogels incorporating MTX and varying concentrations of βCD.
• Rheological measurements to assess viscoelastic properties (e.g., storage modulus, loss modulus).
• In vitro drug release studies to quantify MTX release rates over time.
• Comparison of MTX binding affinities with kappa- and iota-carrageenan.

Main Results:

• The incorporation of βCD successfully increased MTX concentration within the kCR hydrogel matrix.
• Rheological studies indicated that MTX and βCD influenced the viscoelastic properties of kCR gels, maintaining suitability for topical application.
• βCD concentration significantly affected the MTX release rate, enabling modulation of drug delivery.
• Kappa-carrageenan gels exhibited different MTX binding affinities compared to iota-carrageenan gels, influencing release profiles.

Conclusions:

• The developed kCR-βCD-MTX hydrogels demonstrate enhanced drug loading and controlled release capabilities for topical applications.
• The rheological properties are suitable for topical formulation, with βCD playing a key role in modulating drug release.
• Understanding the polymer-drug interactions is crucial for optimizing hydrogel-based drug delivery systems.