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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Chitin-glucan complex (CGC) hydrogels were fabricated by coagulation of the biopolymer
from an aqueous alkaline solution, and their morphology, swelling behavior, mechanical, rheological,
and biological properties were studied. In addition, their in vitro drug loading/release ability and
permeation through mimic-skin artificial membranes (Strat-M) were assessed. The CGC hydrogels
prepared from 4 and 6 wt% CGC suspensions (Na51*4 and Na51*6 hydrogels, respectively) had
polymer contents of 2.40 0.15 and 3.09 0.22 wt%, respectively, and displayed a highly porous
microstructure, characterized by compressive moduli of 39.36 and 47.30 kPa and storage moduli
of 523.20 and 7012.25 Pa, respectively. Both hydrogels had a spontaneous and almost immediate
swelling in aqueous media, and a high-water retention capacity (>80%), after 30 min incubation at
37 C. Nevertheless, the Na51*4 hydrogels had higher fatigue resistance and slightly higher-water
retention capacity. These hydrogels were loaded with caffeine, ibuprofen, diclofenac, or salicylic acid,
reaching entrapment efficiency values ranging between 13.11 0.49% for caffeine, and 15.15 1.54%
for salicylic acid. Similar release profiles in PBS were observed for all tested APIs, comprising an
initial fast release followed by a steady slower release. In vitro permeation experiments through
Strat-M membranes using Franz diffusion cells showed considerably higher permeation fluxes for
caffeine (33.09 g/cm2/h) and salicylic acid (19.53 g/cm2/h), compared to ibuprofen sodium
and diclofenac sodium (4.26 and 0.44 g/cm2/h, respectively). Analysis in normal human dermal
fibroblasts revealed that CGC hydrogels have no major effects on the viability, migration ability, and
morphology of the cells. Given their demonstrated features, CGC hydrogels are very promising
structures, displaying tunable physical properties, which support their future development into novel
transdermal drug delivery platforms.
Description
Keywords
hydrogels chitin-glucan complex polymer concentration drug delivery Franz diffusion cell permeation studies
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Araújo, D.; Rodrigues, T.; Roma-Rodrigues, C.; Alves, V.D.; Fernandes, A.R.; Freitas, F. Chitin-Glucan complex hydrogels: physical-chemical characterization, stability, in vitro drug permeation, and biological assessment in primary cells. Polymers 2023, 15, 791
Publisher
MDPI