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Thermosensitive Chitosan Hydrogels: A Potential Strategy for Prolonged Iron Dextran Parenteral Supplementation
Emerson Durán1,2, Andrónico Neira-Carrillo3, Felipe Oyarzun-Ampuero4
1Departamento de Fomento de la Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santa Rosa 11.735, La Pintana 8820808, Santiago, Chile.
Polymers
|January 11, 2024
Summary
New chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels (CTHs) offer prolonged parenteral iron release for preventing iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pigs. This novel strategy mitigates rapid metabolism, improving iron supplementation efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Veterinary Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a global health issue affecting development in humans and mammals.
- Pigs serve as a valuable model for anemia research due to physiological similarities with humans.
- Current intramuscular iron dextran formulations for pigs have limited efficacy due to rapid metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels (CTHs) for prolonged parenteral iron supplementation.
- To improve the efficacy of iron supplementation by mitigating rapid metabolism of iron dextran particles (IDPs).
- To create a novel delivery system for iron dextran particles (IDPs) in pigs.
Main Methods:
- Chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels (CTHs) loaded with iron dextran particles (IDPs) were synthesized.
- Formulations were characterized for thermosensitivity and viscosity changes for intramuscular injection.
- In vitro release studies compared CTHs with commercial iron dextran formulation (CIDF).
Main Results:
- CTHs demonstrated thermosensitivity, allowing injection at low temperatures and gelling at body temperature.
- In vitro, CTHs exhibited a significantly prolonged iron release (40% in 72 h) compared to CIDF (100% in 6 h).
- Controlled release from CTHs was attributed to physical entrapment of IDPs within the hydrogel matrix, acting as a diffusion barrier.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels (CTHs) are an effective prototype for prolonged-release parenteral iron supplementation.
- This novel hydrogel system shows potential for improved iron deficiency anemia prevention in pigs.
- The physical entrapment mechanism offers a promising strategy for controlled drug delivery of iron particles.
