Synthesis, characterization, and application of reversible PDLLA-PEG-PDLLA copolymer thermogels in vitro and in vivo

Controlled release of liraglutide using thermogelling polymers in treatment of diabetes

In treatment of diabetes, it is much desired in clinics and challenging in pharmaceutics and material science to set up a long-acting drug delivery system. This study was aimed at constructing a new delivery system using thermogelling PEG/polyester copolymers. Liraglutide, a fatty acid-modified antidiabetic polypeptide, was selected as the model drug. The thermogelling polymers were presented by poly(ε-caprolactone-co-glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-glycolic acid) (PCGA-PEG-PCGA) and poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA). Both the copolymers were soluble in water, and their concentrated solutions underwent temperature-induced sol-gel transitions. The drug-loaded polymer solutions were injectable at room temperature and gelled in situ at body temperature. Particularly, the liraglutide-loaded PCGA-PEG-PCGA thermogel formulation exhibited a sustained drug release manner over one week in both in vitro and in vivo tests. This feature was attributed to the combined effects of an appropriate drug/polymer interaction and a high chain mobility of the carrier polymer, which facilitated the sustained diffusion of drug out of the thermogel. Finally, a single subcutaneous injection of this formulation showed a remarkably improved glucose tolerance of mice for one week. Hence, the present study not only developed a promising long-acting antidiabetic formulation, but also put forward a combined strategy for controlled delivery of polypeptide.

Platelet-Rich Plasma-Loaded Poly(d,l-lactide)-Poly(ethylene glycol)-Poly(d,l-lactide) Hydrogel Dressing Promotes Full-Thickness Skin Wound Healing in a Rodent Model

Traditional therapeutic methods for skin wounds have many disadvantages, and new wound dressings that can facilitate the healing process are thus urgently needed. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains multiple growth factors (GFs) and shows a significant capacity to heal soft tissue wounds. However, these GFs have a short half-life and deactivate rapidly; we therefore need a sustained delivery system to overcome this shortcoming. In this study, poly(d,l-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA-PEG-PDLLA: PLEL) hydrogel was successfully created as delivery vehicle for PRP GFs and was evaluated systematically. PLEL hydrogel was injectable at room temperature and exhibited a smart thermosensitive in situ gel-formation behavior at body temperature. In vitro cell culture showed PRP-loaded PLEL hydrogel (PRP/PLEL) had little cytotoxicity, and promoted EaHy926 proliferation, migration and tube formation; the factor release assay additionally indicated that PLEL realized the controlled release of PRP GFs for as long as 14 days. When employed to treat rodents’ full-thickness skin defects, PRP/PLEL showed a significantly better ability to raise the number of both newly formed and mature blood vessels compared to the control, PLEL and PRP groups. Furthermore, the PRP/PLEL-treated group displayed faster wound closure, better reepithelialization and collagen formation. Taken together, PRP/PLEL provides a promising strategy for promoting angiogenesis and skin wound healing, which extends the potential of this dressing for clinical application.

Functional biomedical hydrogels for in vivo imaging

In vivo imaging of biomedical hydrogels enables real-time and non-invasive visualization of the status of structure and function of hydrogels.