Silk fibroin/copolymer composite hydrogels for the controlled and sustained release of hydrophobic/hydrophilic drugs.
In the present study, a composite system for the controlled and sustained release of hydrophobic/hydrophilic drugs is described. Composite hydrogels were prepared by blending silk fibroin (SF) with PLA-PEG-PLA copolymer under mild aqueous condition. Aspirin and indomethacin were incorporated into SF/Copolymer hydrogels as two model drugs with different water-solubility. The degradation of composite hydrogels during the drug release was mainly caused by the hydrolysis of copolymers. SF with stable β-sheet-rich structure was not easily degraded which maintained the mechanical integrity of composite hydrogel. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions of copolymers with model drugs would significantly alter the morphological features of composite hydrogels. Various parameters such as drug load, concentration ratio, and composition of copolymer were considered in vitro drug release. Aspirin as a hydrophilic drug could be controlled release from composite hydrogel at a constant rate for 5 days. Its release was mainly driven by diffusion-based mechanism. Hydrophobic indomethacin could be encapsulated in copolymer nanoparticles distributing in the composite hydrogel. Its sustained release was mainly degradation controlled which could last up to two weeks. SF/Copolymer hydrogel has potential as a useful composite system widely applying for controlled and sustained release of various drugs.
College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Suzhou Jiangsu, PR China.
Tianyi
T
Zhong
College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Suzhou Jiangsu, PR China.
Zhijuan
Z
Jiang
College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Suzhou Jiangsu, PR China.
Peng
P
Wang
College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Suzhou Jiangsu, PR China.
Shiyu
S
Bie
Medical College of Soochow University, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research, Suzhou Jiangsu, PR China.
Feng
F
Zhang
College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Suzhou Jiangsu, PR China. Electronic address: bqzuo@suda.edu.cn.
Baoqi
B
Zuo
D001241:Aspirin / Q000737:chemistry; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D065546:Drug Liberation; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D005349:Fibroins; D001241:Aspirin; D007213:Indomethacin
Composite system; Controlled release; Copolymers; Hydrogel; Silk fibroin