Designing zwitterionic-polysaccharide network hydrogels by covalent and non-covalent functionalization for drug delivery applications.

Abstract

Recent developments in designing polysaccharide-derived hydrogels have demonstrated significant potential in the biomedical sector for a wide array of clinical demands. The unique properties of these hydrogels (HYG) make them suitable for drug delivery (DD) devices to optimize the pharmacokinetic efficacy while minimizing the side effects of conventional DD formulations. Herein, HYG were designed by copolymerization of poly[2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl trimethylammonium chloride)] or (PAETAC) onto gum acacia (GAC) & tragacanth gum (TGM) for their utilization in DD devices. Spectroscopic, morphological & thermal analyses were performed. The physico-chemical & biomedical (BMED) attributes of HYG were also investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) & atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed uneven internal morphology & surface topology of HYG. The amorphous features of materials elucidated from the X-rays diffraction (XRD) spectrum of the product. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) signals at 1726.68 cm^-1 (ester carbonyl group), 1480.5 cm^-1 (-CH₃ bending) and 1243.21 cm^-1(-C-N stretching) & ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR) peaks at 57.892 ppm (-(C=O)O-CH₂-CH₂-N⁺- methylene carbons), 52.867 ppm (-N⁺(CH₃)₃ methyl carbons) and 39.396 ppm (-CH₂-CHX- main chain carbons) inferred grafting reaction of PAETAC onto gums TGM-GAC. The optimized HYG expressed a mesh or pore size (ξ) = 36.04 ± 0.63 nm and a crosslinking density (ρ) = 1.06 × 10^-5 molcm^-3. The drug underwent sustained diffusion, exhibiting a non-Fickian release pattern in the simulated colonic fluid. The kinetic model was found first order that provided the clearest explanation of DD pattern. The material demonstrated non-haemolytic features, which expressed its biocompatibility. The HYG demonstrated mucoadhesive traits & needed separation force of 108 ± 6 mN from a bio- membrane. HYG exhibited antioxidant (ANOXI) property with 31.51 ± 3.11 % radical trapping of DPPH. Ceftriaxone-impregnated network copolymers showed antimicrobial (ANMIC) activity against bacterial strains. The findings illustrated relevance of HYG for DD.