Evaluation of Somatropin Release from Chitosan and Methylcellulose Hydrogels: Influence of Hydrogel Composition and Phosvitin on the Release Profile

This article attempts to develop hydrogel systems containing two polymers, chitosan and methylcellulose, with somatotropin as the active substance. The aim of the study was to obtain a hydrogel preparation for the skin that releases a sufficient amount of the hormone to achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect. This innovative method of delivering the hormone to the body would allow for non-invasive administration of the drug, which would certainly ensure greater comfort for patients. The preparations were subjected to an assessment of physicochemical parameters such as pH measurement, texture analysis, rheological properties, and sensory evaluation. Somatotropin release studies demonstrated that the highest hormone release occurred from a matrix containing equal amounts of chitosan and methylcellulose, reaching 2%. The use of phosvitin as a carrier protein resulted in a prolonged release of somatotropin. Among the phosvitin concentrations tested, the formulation containing 0.005% phosvitin demonstrated the highest somatotropin availability. All preparations had good rheological and textural properties, allowing them to be easily spread over the skin surface.