Tailoring hydroxyethyl cellulose-based SIPN hydrogels: Optimizing physico-chemical and biocompatibility properties

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN) hydrogels offer enhanced robustness and swelling.
• Biocompatible hydrogels are crucial for tissue engineering and drug delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and characterize biocompatible SIPN hydrogels using hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and poly(acrylic acid-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate).
• To investigate the impact of crosslinkers and accelerators on hydrogel swelling, mechanical performance, and cell viability.
• To evaluate the potential of these SIPN hydrogels for controlled drug release applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of SIPN hydrogels with varying crosslinker and accelerator concentrations.
• Characterization of swelling behavior (pH-dependent), mechanical properties (stiffness, shear), and microstructure.
• Assessment of fibroblast cell viability, attachment, and migration.
• Evaluation of pH-triggered doxycycline release and encapsulation efficiency.

Main Results:

• Hydrogels exhibited a maximum swelling of 2570% at neutral pH, decreasing significantly at pH < 4.
• Increased crosslinker concentration reduced swelling but enhanced stiffness.
• Higher accelerator concentrations improved both swelling and mechanical robustness.
• Optimized formulations demonstrated significant cell viability, attachment, and migration.
• Achieved 82% doxycycline encapsulation efficiency with pH-triggered release (89% in intestinal conditions).

Conclusions:

• The developed SIPN hydrogels demonstrate remarkable tunability in swelling and mechanical properties.
• Optimized hydrogel formulations support cell proliferation and are suitable for biomedical applications.
• These SIPN hydrogels show promise for pH-responsive drug delivery systems, protecting drugs in the stomach and releasing them in the intestine.