Work

A pH-Responsive Amphiphilic Hydrogel Based on Pseudopeptides and Poly(ethylene glycol) for Oral Delivery of Hydrophobic Drugs

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Oral administration is a noninvasive and convenient drug delivery route most preferred by patients. However, poor stability in the gastrointestinal tract and low bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs has greatly limited their oral administration. To address this problem, we report a pH-responsive, amphiphilic hydrogel drug carrier based on a pseudopeptide poly( l -lysine isophthalamide) (PLP) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The hydrogels were prepared by a simple N -(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)- N ′-ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC)/ N -hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) coupling reaction, and the cross-linking was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. Because of the pH-responsive conformational alteration of PLP, the hydrogels were relatively hydrophobic and collapsed at acidic pH, but became hydrophilic and swollen at neutral pH. The amphiphilicity enabled the hydrogels to well retain and protect hydrophobic model drugs in the simulated gastric fluid, but efficiently release them in the simulated intestinal fluid. These results suggested that the pH-responsive amphiphilic hydrogels are promising candidates for oral delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

Source: ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering

DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b01040

Authors: Shiqi Wang, Reva Attah, Jiali Li, Yitong Chen, Rongjun Chen

Institution: Imperial College London

Language: English

Topic: Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500