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A Rechargeable Drug Delivery System Based on Pnipam Hydrogel for the Local Release of Curcumin Publisher



Ayar Z1 ; Shafieian M1 ; Mahmoodi N2 ; Sabzevari O3, 4 ; Hassannejad Z5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Toxicology and Poisoning Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Journal of Applied Polymer Science Published:2021


Abstract

This study was designed to develop a drug delivery system based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) hydrogel and a suitable solvent to enhance solubility and local release of curcumin. pNIPAM hydrogel was synthesized by radical polymerization. The chemical, mechanical and physical properties and biocompatibility of pNIPAM hydrogel were investigated as an implantable and rechargeable drug reservoir. Curcumin was loaded within pNIPAM hydrogel during swelling by using two different solvents; methanol, an organic solvent, and low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG200), a polymeric solvent. The results of drug solubility showed that using PEG200 can increase curcumin solubility more than commonly used organic solvents such as methanol. Also, the release profile of drug-loaded hydrogels demonstrated that PEG200 has a superior effect on the cumulative amount of released curcumin (33.163 ± 0.319 μg/ml) compared to methanol (8.765 ± 0.544 μg/ml) during 1 week. Based on our results, curcumin-loaded hydrogels did not show any cytotoxicity, and pNIPAM/PEG combination represented an antibacterial effect within 12 hours. Accordingly, it can be concluded that pNIPAM hydrogel in combination with low molecular weight PEG200 could be used as an efficient drug delivery system to preserve and provide sustained release of curcumin as a hydrophobic drug. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.