1 research outputs found
Effect of Polyethylene Glycol on Properties and Drug Encapsulation–Release Performance of Biodegradable/Cytocompatible Agarose–Polyethylene Glycol–Polycaprolactone Amphiphilic Co-Network Gels
We synthesized agarose–polycaprolactone
(Agr-PCL) bicomponent and Agr–polyethylene glycol–PCL
(Agr-PEG-PCL) tricomponent amphiphilic co-network (APCN) gels by the
sequential nucleophilic substitution reaction between amine-functionalized
Agr and activated halide terminated PCL or PCL-<i>b</i>-PEG-<i>b</i>-PCL copolymer for the sustained and localized delivery
of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. The biodegradability of the
APCNs was confirmed using lipase and by hydrolytic degradation. These
APCN gels displayed good cytocompatibility and blood compatibility.
Importantly, these APCN gels exhibited remarkably high drug loading
capacity coupled with sustained and triggered release of both hydrophilic
and hydrophobic drugs. PEG in the APCNs lowered the degree of phase
separation and enhanced the mechanical property of the APCN gels.
The drug loading capacity and the release kinetics were also strongly
influenced by the presence of PEG, the nature of release medium, and
the nature of the drug. Particularly, PEG in the APCN gels significantly
enhanced the 5-fluorouracil loading capacity and lowered its release
rate and burst release. Release kinetics of highly water-soluble gemcitabine
hydrochloride and hydrophobic prednisolone acetate depended on the
extent of water swelling of the APCN gels. Cytocompatibility/blood
compatibility and pH and enzyme-triggered degradation together with
sustained release of drugs show great promise for the use of these
APCN gels in localized drug delivery and tissue engineering applications