Hydrogel Composites Containing Sacrificial Collapsed Hollow Particles as Dual Action pH-Responsive Biomaterials.
In this study hydrogel composites are investigated that contain sacrificial pH-responsive collapsed hollow particles (CHPs) entrapped within a poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) network. The CHPs were prepared using a scalable (mainly) water-based method and had a bowl-like morphology that was comparable to that of red blood cells. The CHPs were constructed from poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid), which is a pH-responsive copolymer. The PAAm/CHP composite morphology was probed with optical microscopy, CLSM and SEM. These data showed the CHPs were dispersed throughout the PAAm network. Inclusion of the CHPs within the gel composites increased the modulus in a tunable manner. The CHPs fragmented at pH values greater than the pKa of the particles, and this process decreased the gel modulus to values similar to that of the parent PAAm hydrogel. CHPs containing a model drug were used to demonstrate pH-triggered release from PAAm/CHP and the release kinetics obeyed Fickian diffusion. The composite gels had low cytotoxicity as evidenced by Live/Dead and MTT assays. The hydrogel composites showed dual action pH-triggered softening with simultaneous drug release which occurred without a volume increase. The hydrogel composites may have potential application as enteric gels or for intra-articular drug delivery.
Biomaterials Research Group, School of Materials, The University of Manchester , MSS Tower, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
Kyriaki
K
Pafiti
Biomaterials Research Group, School of Materials, The University of Manchester , MSS Tower, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
Zhengxing
Z
Cui
Injury and Repair, Institute for Inflammation and Repair, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
Daman
D
Adlam
Injury and Repair, Institute for Inflammation and Repair, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.|NIHR Manchester Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre , Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom.
Judith
J
Hoyland
Injury and Repair, Institute for Inflammation and Repair, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.|NIHR Manchester Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre , Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom.
Anthony J
AJ
Freemont
Biomaterials Research Group, School of Materials, The University of Manchester , MSS Tower, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
Brian R
BR
Saunders
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate