Oxidized hydroxypropyl cellulose/carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels permit pH-responsive, targeted drug release. (15th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Yang; Zhai, Zhenghao; Yao, Yimin; Stant, John C.; Landrum, Sarah L.; Bortner, Michael J.; Frazier, Charles E.; Edgar, Kevin J.
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 300(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01-15
• Subjects: All-polysaccharide hydrogels -- Injectable -- Self-healing -- Drug delivery -- Chitosan -- Cellulose; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120213
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Abstract: Polysaccharide-based Schiff base hydrogels have promise for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and many other applications due to their reversible imine bond crosslinks. We describe herein pH-responsive, injectable, and self-healing hydrogels prepared by reacting oxidized hydroxypropyl cellulose (Ox-HPC) with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS). Simple combination of ketones from Ox-HPC side chains with amines from CMCS in water provides a dynamic, hydrophilic polysaccharide network. The reversible nature of these imine bonds in the presence of water provides a hydrogel with injectable and self-healing properties. Phenylalanine as a model amine-containing drug was linked by imine bonds to Ox-HPC within the hydrogel. Phenylalanine release was faster at the pH of the extracellular space around tumors (6.8) than in normal tissues (7.4), a surprising degree of pH sensitivity. Therefore, Ox-HPC/CMCS hydrogels show promise as drug carriers that may selectively target even slightly lower pH environments like the extracellular milieu around cancer cells. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image