High mechanical strength chitosan-based hydrogels cross-linked with poly(ethylene glycol)/polycaprolactone micelles for the controlled release of drugs/growth factors. Issue 5 (13th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wen, Yan; Li, Fan; Li, Chunge; Yin, Yuji; Li, Junjie
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 5:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 961
• Page End: 971
• Publication Date: 2017-01-13
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c6tb02201d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-750X

Abstract

Abstract : Novel chitosan-based hydrogels crosslinked with PECL micelles with high mechanical strength for the controlled release of drugs/growth factors. Abstract : High mechanical strength hydrogels without burst release are known to be beneficial to deliver bioactive molecules including drugs and growth factors. Herein, chitosan-based hydrogels are fabricated by the covalent attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) to thiol groups of thiolated natural polymers via Michael addition reaction under physiological conditions. Poly(ethylene glycol- b -caprolactone- b -ethylene glycol) (PECL) micelles bearing double bonds act as both fillers and chemical cross-linkers to mechanically reinforce chitosan-based hydrogels, which is confirmed by the results of rheological behavior and compressive strength measurements. Indomethacin (IMC) and/or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are/is entrapped into the PECL micelle cross-linked hydrogel network primarily through hydrophobic interaction and specific affinity to thiolated heparin, respectively. After a relatively quick initial release, rather than an initial burst commonly occurring in conventional hydrogels based on drug delivery systems, IMC and/or bFGF are/is released from these PECL micelle cross-linked hydrogels at a slower rate until a steady state is reached. The release rate of IMC and/or bFGF could be readily tuned by varying the micelle amount and the thiolated heparin content in a polymer matrix.