title: Carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan: a novel thermosensitive hydrogel forming polysaccharide for drug delivery applications.
abstract: A carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan (Scl-CM) with a derivatization degree of 65 +/- 5% was synthesized. The rheological behaviour of this novel polymer was studied and compared with that of the starting polymer. We observed that the charged moieties carried on the chains could prevent the triple helix formation of Scl. Scl-CM aqueous solutions behave like true polymer solutions up to 1% w/v, whereas above this concentration a weak gel behaviour was observed. CaCl(2) addition to aqueous Scl-CM solutions led to a physical gel formation; the hydrogel strength was related to polymer and CaCl(2) concentrations. Temperature sweeps, registered at 1 Hz on hydrogels differing in CaCl(2) concentration, evidenced a gel --> sol transition in the range of 30-40 degrees C, depending on the molar ratio between carboxylic groups and Ca(+2). In order to verify a possible use of these hydrogels as drug delivery systems, acyclovir was loaded into the network. Rheological analysis evidenced that the loaded drug can affect the hydrogel elastic modulus. The release of acyclovir in phosphate buffer was evaluated at different temperatures in order to assess the suitability of this novel drug delivery system in topical applications.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feeney
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Casadei
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matricardi
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005936:Glucans / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008422:Materials Testing; D012212:Rheology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005936:Glucans; D020100:Hydrogels; C045938:scleroglucan; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D000212:Acyclovir