?-Irradiation preparation of poly(acrylic acid)-chitosan hydrogels forin vitro drug release

pH responsive N-succinyl chitosan/Poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels and in vitro release of 5-fluorouracil

There has been significant progress in the last few decades in addressing the biomedical applications of polymer hydrogels. Particularly, stimuli responsive hydrogels have been inspected as elegant drug delivery systems capable to deliver at the appropriate site of action within the specific time. The present work describes the synthesis of pH responsive semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) hydrogels of N-succinyl-chitosan (NSC) via Schiff base mechanism using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent and Poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid)(Poly (AAm-co-AA)) was embedded within the N-succinyl chitosan network. The physico-chemical interactions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The synthesized hydrogels constitute porous structure. The swelling ability was analyzed in physiological mediums of pH 7.4 and pH 1.2 at 37°C. Swelling properties of formulations with various amounts of NSC/ Poly (AAm-co-AA) and crosslinking agent at pH 7.4 and pH 1.2 were investigated. Hydrogels showed higher swelling ratios at pH 7.4 while lower at pH 1.2. Swelling kinetics and diffusion parameters were also determined. Drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) from the synthesized hydrogels were observed. In vitro release profile revealed the significant influence of pH, amount of NSC, Poly (AAm-co-AA), and crosslinking agent on the release of 5-FU. Accordingly, rapid and large release of drug was observed at pH 7.4 than at pH 1.2. The maximum encapsulation efficiency and release of 5-FU from SP2 were found to be 72.45% and 85.99%, respectively. Kinetics of drug release suggested controlled release mechanism of 5-FU is according to trend of non-Fickian. From the above results, it can be concluded that the synthesized hydrogels have capability to adapt their potential exploitation as targeted oral drug delivery carriers.

Physically cross-linked pH-responsive chitosan-based hydrogels with enhanced mechanical performance for controlled drug delivery

A novel physically cross-linked pH-responsive hydrogel with enhanced mechanical performance was prepared from chitosan, acrylic acid and (2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate via in situ free radical polymerization for controlled drug delivery.

Controlled release of tinidazole and theophylline from chitosan based composite hydrogels

Several composite hydrogels were synthesized by free radical crosslink copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and N' methylene bis-acrylamide (MBA) in the presence of chitosan (CS). During polymerization CS was incorporated in situ in the crosslinked polyacrylic acid gel to produce composite hydrogels. The structure and properties of the hydrogels were characterized by FTIR, (13)C NMR, DTA-TGA, XRD, swelling and diffusion characteristic and also network parameters. The loading and the in vitro release behaviours of theophylline and tinidazole model drugs were studied with these hydrogels. The wt% of CS and MBA and pH of the medium was found to strongly influence the drug release behaviour of the gels. Accordingly, the release rate of these two drugs was much faster at pH of 7.6 than at pH 1.5.

Synthesis of pH-Sensitive and Biodegradable CM-Cellulose/Chitosan Polyampholytic Hydrogels with Electron Beam Irradiation

A series of novel environment-conscious hydrogels were prepared from carboxymethylated cellulose (CM-cellulose) and chitosan using irradiation without any additives. Gel fraction, mechanical property, and swelling behavior of the hydrogel were studied. The hydrogel blend exhibited improved mechanical property and good swelling in water. The blend hydrogels also displayed typical pH-sensitive swelling behavior. A preliminary biodegradation study confirmed that the hydrogel blends undergo biodegradation by enzymatic degradation.

Preparation of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks composed of chitosan and poloxamer

Through semi-interpenetration of polymer networks with poloxamer, mechanical properties of chitosan (CS) sponge were increased for wound dressing application. Synthesis of poloxamer macromer was confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra. Possible interactions between CS and poloxamer in semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPNs), and changes in crystalline structures of both polymers were evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Swelling behavior, thermal analysis, mechanical properties, and morphology of SIPNs were studied by thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), compressive modulus measurement, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Preparation of poloxamer macromer, and intermolecular hydrogen bonding between CS and poloxamer were confirmed by NMR and FTIR, respectively. Melting temperature of poloxamer in SIPNs decreased due to prevention of crystallization by incorporation of CS. Formation of SIPNs with poloxamer and increasing poloxamer content in CS/poloxamer SIPNs increased mechanical strength of CS sponge compared with CS/poloxamer blend. Formation of SIPNs with poloxamer remarkably increased water content of CS due to hydrophilicity of CS and poloxamer. These results suggest CS/poloxamer sponges prepared by SIPNs method have good possibility for wound dressing application owing to rapid water adsorption, high mechanical strength, and interconnected cross-sectional morphology of SIPNs.

Synthesis of DTPA-conjugated (1,4)-linked 2-aminoglycosides varying in the anomeric configuration and their MRI contrast effect

We describe the efficient synthesis of DTPA-conjugated oligosaccharides composed of alpha- and/or beta-linked tri to monoglucosamines. Gd(iii) complex with DTPA-conjugated chitotriitol has been reported to be an effective MRI contrast agent. In order to elucidate the structure-property relationships, we planned to synthesize the DTPA-conjugated 2-amino-tri-, di-, and monosaccharides varying in configuration at the anomeric positions and the C2 position on the reducing end. Our strategy for the synthesis of the DTPA-conjugated oligosaccharides involves O-perbenzyl protected 2-amino-tri-, di-, and monosaccharides as key intermediates. The 2-aminoglycosides were prepared by non-selective glycosidation of 2-azido-2-deoxyglycosyl donors, followed by separation of two anomeric isomers. Although the synthesis involves separation of the stereoisomers, it circumvents not only the careful tuning of reaction conditions, but also the time-consuming preparation of glycosyl donors attached to different protecting groups. The protected 2-aminoglycosides were converted to the fully deprotected DTPA-conjugated tri- to monosaccharides by the same operation. MRI phantom study using the Gd(III) complexes of DTPA-conjugated oligosaccharides indicates that the number of the monosaccharide units was critical for enhancing the relative signal intensity of water protons per Gd, and various stereoisomers would be candidate scaffolds for MRI contrast agents.

Temperature-sensitive chitosan-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) interpenetrated networks with enhanced loading capacity and controlled release properties

Interpenetrated polymer networks (IPN) of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) and chitosan (two grades) were prepared by free radical polymerisation and cross-linking of PNIPA (700 mM) with bis(acrylamide) (20 mM) in chitosan solutions (1.5 wt.% in acetic acid), and subsequent immersion in glutaraldehyde solutions (0 to 0.7 vol.%) to post-cross-link the chitosan. The amount of chitosan that remained in the IPNs, after washing, was proportional to the glutaraldehyde concentration used in the post-cross-linking step; being only 50% of the theoretical when the post-cross-linking was omitted (semi-IPN). The temperature-induced phase transitions of the IPNs were followed by the changes in the swelling degree and in the thermodynamic parameters (temperature, enthalpy, heat capacity, and width of the transition), which were evaluated using high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (HS-DSC). An increase in the post-cross-linking degree of chitosan caused a decrease in the enthalpy of the transition, and in the absolute value of the transition heat capacity increment (delta(t)C(p)), as well as a broadening of the heat capacity peak. This behaviour is a consequence of the subdivision, in the IPNs, of the PNIPA network in microdomains, some regions of which (surface or outer) cannot be involved in the transitions. On the other hand, changes in pH from 8 to 3 only increased the transition temperature from about 32 to 34 degrees C, despite the considerable modification that this caused in the ionisation degree of chitosan. The PNIPA/chitosan IPNs had a notably greater affinity for diclofenac than the pure PNIPA hydrogel and were able to sustain the drug release for more than 8 h in 0.9% NaCl solutions or pH 8 phosphate buffer. The IPNs with lower chitosan post-cross-linking degree showed the higher temperature-sensitive release patterns. In contrast, the temperature did not significantly affect the release rate from the most cross-linked IPNs, in which the PNIPA microdomains are smaller and the volume phase transitions are less sharper. Therefore, PNIPA microdomains play an important role in controlling the release process. In summary, the interpenetration of networks with complementary properties, such as those made with PNIPA and chitosan, make it possible to develop drug delivery systems with improved drug loading capacity (owing to chitosan) and sustained release behaviour (owing to PNIPA).