title: Photo-crosslinkable, thermo-sensitive and biodegradable pluronic hydrogels for sustained release of protein.
abstract: Thermo-sensitive and biodegradable hydrogels based on Pluronic tri-block copolymers were prepared by a photo-polymerization method. Two terminal hydroxyl groups in Pluronic F-127 were acrylated to form a Pluronic macromer. Photo-cross-linked Pluronic hydrogels prepared by UV radiation showed a gradually decreased swelling ratio with increasing temperature and exhibited a thermally-responsive change in the swelling ratio when the temperature was cycled between 10 degrees C and 37 degrees C. These hydrogels degraded slowly due to the cleavage of ester linkage in the acrylated Pluronic terminal end. When lysozyme, a model protein drug, was loaded in the hydrogels, bi-phasic protein release profiles were attained: a burst-free and rapid controlled release profile was initially observed for a one week period and a much slower sustained release was followed thereafter. The release rates could be controlled by varying the amount of Pluronic macromer for photo-polymerization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Bae
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jun Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Doo Sung
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Gwan
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009113:Muramidase; D010777:Photochemistry; D020442:Poloxamer; D011506:Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D020100:Hydrogels; D011506:Proteins; D020442:Poloxamer; D009113:Muramidase