Thermosensitive injectable hydrogels from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)–dextran aqueous solutions: Thermogelation and drug release properties. Issue 3 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andrei, Maria; Turturica, Gabriel; Stanescu, Paul O.; Teodorescu, Mircea
• Is Part Of: Soft materials. Volume 14:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 162
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: Controlled release -- dextran -- injectable hydrogels -- poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) -- Thermosensitive; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1080/1539445X.2016.1172317
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-445X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Novel injectable thermosensitive hydrogel formulations with improved both water retention (WR) and drug release profile were prepared by adding dextran (DXT) to poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) aqueous solutions as a remedy against the demixing/syneresis phenomenon. The addition of the hydrophilic polysaccharide improved the WR of the hydrogel at 37°C from about 12% in the absence of DXT to about 40–55% out of the initial amount introduced, depending on both PNIPAM and DXT concentrations. Also, the 5-fluorouracil release experiments showed an appreciably reduced "burst effect" for the DXT-containing hydrogels. The shape of the release profiles revealed the presence of two stages, differing each other from the point of view of the drug release rate.