Fabrication and characterization of biocompatible BPC-157 based chitosan hydrogel

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Multifunctional hydrogels are critical for advanced biomedical applications.
• Chitosan (CH) and BPC-157 peptide offer unique properties for biomaterial development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a novel chitosan/BPC-157 (CH/BPC) composite hydrogel.
• To evaluate its physicochemical, mechanical, drug delivery, and antibacterial properties for biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of CH/BPC composite hydrogel.
• Characterization using SEM, TEM, and FTIR.
• Assessment of water vapor transmission rate, injectability, self-healing, and adhesiveness.
• Evaluation of BPC-157 encapsulation and release kinetics.
• Antibacterial activity testing against E. coli and S. aureus.
• Hemocompatibility assessment via hemolysis rate.

Main Results:

• The CH/BPC hydrogel exhibited a porous structure and successful BPC-157 incorporation via hydrogen bonding.
• It demonstrated a balanced water vapor transmission rate, injectability, self-healing, and adhesiveness.
• High BPC-157 encapsulation (98.9%) and release (81.2% in 24h) were achieved.
• Significant antibacterial efficacy against E. coli (45.9%) and S. aureus (65.0%) was observed.
• A hemolysis rate below 5% indicated good hemocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The developed CH/BPC hydrogel possesses desirable physicochemical and antibacterial characteristics.
• Its multifunctional properties highlight its potential for various biomedical applications, including tissue regeneration and drug delivery.