Thermo-Responsive Hydrogels Encapsulating Targeted Core-Shell Nanoparticles as Injectable Drug Delivery Systems.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Injectable biomaterials offer minimally invasive therapeutic administration.
• Responsive hydrogels are promising platforms for targeted drug delivery.
• Controlled release of therapeutics is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop temperature-responsive hydrogel scaffolds with embedded targeted nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery.
• To engineer a system for local drug administration with tunable properties.
• To investigate the potential of this system for targeted cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) hydrogels with thermo-sensitive gelation.
• Encapsulation of curcumin into core-shell alginate-chitosan nanoparticles.
• Embedding nanoparticles within the hydrogel matrix.
• Evaluation of drug release kinetics, water uptake, and mechanical stability.
• Folic acid conjugation to nanoparticles for targeted delivery.

Main Results:

• The hydrogel system demonstrated thermo-sensitive gelation at body temperature.
• Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles exhibited high encapsulation efficiency and stable drug molecules.
• Nanoparticle-embedded hydrogels showed a four-fold slower drug release compared to free nanoparticles.
• The hydrogels possessed high water uptake capacity and stable viscoelastic behavior.
• Folate-targeted nanoparticles showed potential for specific targeting of folate receptor-overexpressing tumor tissues.

Conclusions:

• The developed injectable hydrogel scaffold with drug-loaded, folate-targeting nanoparticles offers an effective therapeutic strategy.
• This system is suitable for minimally invasive treatment of accessible tumors.
• It holds potential for localized drug delivery, particularly for post-operative cancer therapy.