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Li Q, Li X, Bury E, Koh A, Lackey K, Wesselmann U, Yaksh T, Zhao C. Hydration-induced Void-containing Hydrogels for Encapsulation and Sustained Release of Small Hydrophilic Molecules. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2023; 33:2301025. [PMID: 38046826 PMCID: PMC10691822 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202301025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Efficient encapsulation and sustained release of small hydrophilic molecules from traditional hydrogel systems have been challenging due to the large mesh size of 3D networks and high water content. Furthermore, the encapsulated molecules are prone to early release from the hydrogel prior to use, resulting in a short shelf life of the formulation. Here, we present a hydration-induced void-containing hydrogel (HVH) based on hyperbranched polyglycerol-poly(propylene oxide)-hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG-PPG-HPG) as a robust and efficient delivery system for small hydrophilic molecules. Specifically, after the HPG-PPG-HPG is incubated overnight at 4 °C in the drug solution, it is hydrated into a hydrogel containing micron-sized voids, which could encapsulate hydrophilic drugs and achieve 100% drug encapsulation efficiency. In addition, the voids are surrounded by a densely packed polymer matrix, which restricts drug transport to achieve sustained drug release. The hydrogel/drug formulation can be stored for several months without changing the drug encapsulation and release properties. HVH hydrogels are injectable due to shear thinning properties. In rats, a single injection of the HPG-PPG-HPG hydrogel containing 8 μg of tetrodotoxin (TTX) produced sciatic nerve block lasting up to 10 hours without any TTX-related systemic toxicity nor local toxicity to nerves and muscles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Xiaosi Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bury
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Amanda Koh
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Kimberly Lackey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Ursula Wesselmann
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, and Department of Neurology, Consortium for Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Tony Yaksh
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chao Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Convergent Biosciences and Medicine, Alabama Life Research Institute, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
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