Injectable polysaccharide hydrogels as localized nitric oxide delivery formulations.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Injectable hydrogels are promising for localized therapeutic delivery.
• Polysaccharide-based hydrogels offer biocompatibility and tunable properties.
• Nitric oxide (NO) delivery holds potential for various biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize injectable polysaccharide hydrogels for nitric oxide delivery.
• To evaluate the rheological, degradation, and release properties of these hydrogels.
• To assess the in vitro cytotoxicity of the developed hydrogel systems.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of hydrogels using oxidized dextran and modified carboxymethylcellulose or hyaluronic acid.
• Rheological testing to determine storage moduli and mechanical properties.
• In vitro degradation studies at different pH values and assessment of NO release kinetics.
• Cytotoxicity evaluation using multiple cell lines.

Main Results:

• Carboxymethylcellulose-based hydrogels exhibited higher storage moduli compared to hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels.
• Hyaluronic acid hydrogels showed significantly higher swelling ratios.
• Incorporation of NO donors reduced hydrogel moduli and affected NO release kinetics.
• Hydrogels degraded faster at lower pH, with NO accelerating degradation.
• Most hydrogel extracts showed no cytotoxicity, except for hyaluronic acid against human gingival fibroblasts.

Conclusions:

• Injectable polysaccharide hydrogels can be tailored for specific biomedical needs.
• These hydrogels demonstrate tunable mechanical properties, controlled degradation, and NO release capabilities.
• The developed hydrogels present a versatile and largely non-toxic platform for local nitric oxide delivery in biomedical applications.