title: Spermidine-cross-linked hydrogels as novel potential platforms for pharmaceutical applications.
abstract: Endogen polyamines are known to be molecules of high biological value. Herein, a new generation of physical hydrogels was developed through the mild ionotropic gelantion technique, using the endogen polyamine spermidine as a physical cross-linker. The main negatively charged polymer of the hydrogel is the natural polysaccharide gellan gum. Optionally, interesting endogen molecules, such as chondroitin sulfate and albumin, can be included as part of the formulation. These new hydrogels were characterized and the influence of the different components on their final properties was carefully analyzed, ultimately demonstrating the possibility to modulate these properties as well as the system's versatility in terms of composition. On the contrary, in vitro cell studies showed the absence of cytotoxicity of these hydrogels. Finally, the in vitro-release profiles obtained for different model molecules evidenced the potential of these systems as novel drug delivery platforms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), CampusVida, Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Cebral
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paolicelli
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romero-Caamaño
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seijo
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Casadei
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D012212:Rheology; D013095:Spermidine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C048288:gellan gum; D013095:Spermidine
keywords: drug delivery; hydrogels; polycations; polysaccharides; proteins; spermidine