Cross-linked acrylic hydrogel for the controlled delivery of hydrophobic drugs in cancer therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate cross-linked hydrogels prepared via inverse emulsion polymerization to entrap poorly aqueous soluble drugs. Polyethylene glycol cross-linked acrylic polymers were synthesized and the loading and release of curcumin, a model hydrophobic drug, was investigated.


METHODS
Physicochemical characteristics of hydrogels were studied with (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and swelling. Polymerization of the acrylic acid with cross-linked polyethylene glycol diacrylate was characterized with (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.


RESULTS
The in vitro release rate of curcumin showed that there was a sustained release from the hydrogel with increased cross-linking; the release rate depended on the pH of the releasing medium. Intracellular and cytotoxicity studies were carried out in human cervical cancer cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest cross-linked acrylic polymers can be used as efficient vectors for pH-sensitive, controlled delivery of hydrophobic drugs.
Chemical Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
G
G
Deepa
Arun Kumar T
AK
Thulasidasan
Ruby John
RJ
Anto
J Jisha
JJ
Pillai
G S Vinod
GS
Kumar
D000179:Acrylates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D000179:Acrylates; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D020100:Hydrogels; C437167:poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D003474:Curcumin; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide