title: A Selective Mucin/Methylcellulose Hybrid Gel with Tailored Mechanical Properties.
abstract: Mucin glycoproteins are key components of native mucus which serves as an initial barrier in the human body against microbial attack. Mucins are able to prevent bacterial adhesion and can trap viruses. However, the weak mechanical properties of mucin solutions have so far prevented their application in a physiological environment. Here, methylcellulose biopolymers are used as mechanical adjuvants to overcome this limitation and generate a thermoresponsive mucin/methylcellulose hybrid system. The hybrid material developed combines the selective permeability properties brought about by mucins with the thermal autogelation properties of methylcellulose. As a consequence, triggered by contact with body-warm surfaces, the hybrid material rapidly forms a gel at physiological conditions, and this external temperature stimulus can also be harnessed to stimulate drug release from incorporated thermosensitive liposomes. Finally, the hybrid gel selectively retards the release of embedded molecules which can be used to further control and prolong drug release from the material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Medical Engineering IMETUM, Technische Universität München, 85748, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nowald
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, 04107, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Penk
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), University of Munich (LMU), 81377, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Hsin-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), University of Munich (LMU), 81377, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bein
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, 04107, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huster
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Medical Engineering IMETUM, Technische Universität München, 85748, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lieleg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D065546:Drug Liberation; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009077:Mucins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D012212:Rheology; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D020100:Hydrogels; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008081:Liposomes; D009077:Mucins; D012834:Silver; D008747:Methylcellulose
keywords: biopolymers; drug delivery systems; gelation; hydrogels; selectivity