Stimuli-induced gel-sol transition of supramolecular hydrogels based on β-cyclodextrin polymer/ferrocene-containing triblock copolymer inclusion complexes

Double-Layer Hydrogel with Glucose-Activated Two-Stage ROS Regulating Properties for Programmed Diabetic Wound Healing

Slow healing of wounds induces great pain in diabetic patients. However, developing new approaches to promote diabetic wound healing is still one of the toughest challenges in the medical field. Here, we constructed a new double-layer hydrogel to effectively regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the wound and promote diabetic wound healing. The inner layer contains glucose oxidase (Gox), ferrocene-modified quaternary ammonium chitosan (Fc-QCs), and poly(β-cyclodextrin) (Pβ-CD), which is used to generate hydroxyl radicals (•OH) for antibacterial in the early stage of wound healing and collapses gradually. The outer layer is composed of gelatin and dopamine. In the later stage of wound healing, the outer layer contacts the skin, which is beneficial for ROS clearance on the wound. Antibacterial, ROS scavenging, and wound healing experiments have shown that the double-layer hydrogel possesses two-stage ROS regulating properties for programmed diabetic wound healing. In conclusion, it will be one of the most potential dressings for treating diabetic wounds in the future.

Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Epichlorohydrin-β-Cyclodextrin/Curcumin Binary Systems Embedded in a Pluronic®/Hyaluronate Hydrogel

Curcumin (Cur) is an anti-inflammatory polyphenol that can be complexed with polymeric cyclodextrin (CD) to improve solubility and bioavailability. The aim of the present work was to prepare a CurCD hydrogel to treat inflammatory skin conditions. Epichlorohydrin-β-CD (EpiβCD) was used as polymeric CD. To characterize the binary system, solid-state and in-solution studies were performed. Afterwards, an experimental design was performed to optimize the hydrogel system. Finally, the CurEpiβCD hydrogel system was tested for anti-inflammatory activity using a HaCat psoriasis cell model. Co-grinded Cur/EpiβCD binary system showed a strong interaction and Curcumin solubility was much improved. Its combination with Pluronic® F-127/hyaluronate hydrogel demonstrated an improvement in release rate and Curcumin permeation. After testing its anti-inflammatory activity, the system showed a significant reduction in IL-6 levels. Hydrogel-containing CurEpiβCD complex is a great alternative to treat topical inflammatory diseases.

On-line monitoring of the sol-gel transition temperature of thermosensitive chitosan/β-glycerophosphate hydrogels by low field NMR

A temperature controlled low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) T₂ relaxometry technique based on the mobility changes of water trapped in hydrogels, was successfully used for on-line determination of the sol-gel transition temperature for chitosan/β-glycerophosphate (CS/GP) hydrogels in real time. The LF-NMR results indicated that the gelation temperature decreased gradually with increasing GP concentration, and the results were supported by both thermogravimetric differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheological findings; however, LF-NMR allows non-destructive monitoring of samples during continuous heating. Moreover, as the mobility of water molecules varies greatly during the sol-gel phase transition, the LF-NMR measurement was more sensitive and accurate (RSD ≤ 0.1 %, n = 5) compared with DSC (RSD: 1.2 %-3.7 %, n = 5) and rheology (RSD: 1.1 %-2.3 %, n = 5).

ECM based injectable thermo-sensitive hydrogel on the recovery of injured cartilage induced by osteoarthritis

Intra-articular injection of anti-inflammatory drugs can be a promising strategy for recovery of injured articular cartilage. We prepared a series of injectable thermo-sensitive composite hydrogels, composed of Pluronic F127, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2), which was designed to mimic extracellular matrix (ECM). The rheological properties and dissolution rate of composite hydrogels containing chondroitin sulfate or with different hyaluronic acid molecular mass (10k, 90k, 800k) were investigated. Meanwhile, bovine serum albumin (BSA) or FITC-BSA was chosen as model drug loaded into PF/GAG hydrogels to study their sustained release behavior in vitro. The results showed that hydrogels could maintain shapes for more than 16 days and the release rate of BSA in PF/GAG composite gels was much slower than in PF127 gels, due to the affinity between BSA and GAG. Furthermore, increasing the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid correspondingly increased hydrogel dissolution rate and BSA release in the hydrogels. Subsequently, MTT experiments were performed to investigate the toxicity of the hydrogels on mouse pre-osteoblast cell MC3T3-E1. In vivo anti-inflammation results showed that PF/GAG@BMP-2 composite hydrogels had the most efficient efficacy on recovery of injured cartilage, which is induced by osteoarthritis, compared to the control groups (PF127@BMP-2 or BMP-2 saline solution).

Cyclodextrin-based host–guest supramolecular hydrogel and its application in biomedical fields

CD-based host–guest supramolecular hydrogels and their potential biomedical application.

Multi-responsive hydrogels for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications

Multi-responsive hydrogels, or 'intelligent' hydrogels that respond to more than one environmental stimulus, have demonstrated great utility as a regenerative biomaterial in recent years. They are structured biocompatible materials that provide specific and distinct responses to varied physiological or externally applied stimuli. As evidenced by a burgeoning number of investigators, multi-responsive hydrogels are endowed with tunable, controllable and even biomimetic behavior well-suited for drug delivery and tissue engineering or regenerative growth applications. This article encompasses recent developments and challenges regarding supramolecular, layer-by-layer assembled and covalently cross-linked multi-responsive hydrogel networks and their application to drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Fully Supramolecular Polyrotaxanes as Biphase Drug Delivery Systems

Pseudopolyrotaxanes (PPR) consisting ofα-cyclodextrin rings and polyethylene glycol axes with end thymine groups have been synthesized and characterized successfully. Fluorescein (Fl) as a model drug was conjugated to the hydroxyl functional groups of cyclodextrin rings of PPR via ester bonds and PPR-Fl as the primary drug delivery system was obtained. Finally PPR-Fl was capped by hydrogen bonds between end thymine groups and a suitable complementary molecule such as polycitric acid, citric acid, or adenine. The aim of this work was to control the release of the fluorescein-cyclodextrin (Fl-CD) conjugates, as the secondary drug delivery systems, from PPR-Fl by controlling the noncovalent interactions between stoppers and thymine end groups. It was found that the rate of release of the Fl-CD from PPR-Fl could be controlled by pH and the ratio of citric acid or adenine to the PPR-Fl.