title: An injectable and biodegradable hydrogel based on poly(α,β-aspartic acid) derivatives for localized drug delivery.
abstract: An injectable hydrogel via hydrazone cross-linking was prepared under mild conditions without addition of cross-linker or catalyst. Hydrazine and aldehyde modified poly(aspartic acid)s were used as two gel precursors. Both of them are water-soluble and biodegradable polymers with a protein-like structure, and obtained by aminolysis reaction of polysuccinimide. The latter can be prepared by thermal polycondensation of aspartic acid. Hydrogels were prepared in PBS solution and characterized by different methods including gel content and swelling, Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy, and in vitro degradation experiment. A scanning electron microscope viewed the interior morphology of the obtained hydrogels, which showed porous three-dimensional structures. Different porous sizes were present, which could be well controlled by the degree of aldehyde substitution in precursor poly(aspartic acid) derivatives. The doxorubicin-loaded hydrogels were prepared and showed a pH-sensitive release profile. The release rate can be accelerated by decreasing the environmental pH from a physiological to a weak acidic condition. Moreover, the cell adhesion and growth behaviors on the hydrogel were studied and the polymeric hydrogel showed good biocompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Caicai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guolin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yinong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jianbiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007267:Injections; D016062:Porosity
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001704:Biopolymers; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006835:Hydrazones; D020100:Hydrogels; C499773:alpha,beta-poly(aspartic acid); D001224:Aspartic Acid; D004317:Doxorubicin
keywords: biodegradation; drug delivery; hydrazone; injectable hydrogel; poly(aspartic acid)