Abstract
To fabricate environmentally sensitive hydrogels with better biocompatibility, natural materials such as protein and polysaccharide have been widely used. Environmentally sensitive hydrogels can be used as a drug carrier for sustained drug release due to its stimulus responsive performance. The relationship between the internal structure of hydrogels and their drug delivery behaviors remains indeterminate. In this study, environmentally sensitive hydrogels fabricated by blending silk fibroin/chitosan with different mass ratios were successfully prepared using 1-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC)/N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) cross-linking agent. Scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) images showed the microcosmic surface of the gel had a 3-D network-like and interconnected pore structure. The N2 adsorption–desorption method disclosed the existence of macroporous and mesoporous structures in the internal structure of hydrogels. Data of compression tests showed its good mechanical performance. The swelling performance of hydrogels exhibited stimuli responsiveness at different pH and ion concentration. With the increase of pH and ion concentration, the swelling ratios of hydrogels (silk fibroin (SF)/ chitosan (CS) = 8/2 and 7/3) decreased. Methylene blue (MB) was loaded into the hydrogels to confirm the potential of sustained drug release and pH-responsive behavior. Therefore, due to the porous structure, stable mechanical strength, stimuli responsive swelling performance, and drug release behaviors, the SF/CS composite hydrogels have potential applications in controlled drug release.
Highlights
During medical treatment and care, oral administration is always convenient and efficient
In hydrogel formed by chitosan alone has many biomedical advantages and benign gelation condition, hydrogel formed by chitosan alone has many biomedical advantages and benign gelation condition,it been proved that the of silk fibroin improve mechanical of hydrogels ithas has been proved thataddition the addition of silkcan fibroin canthe improve the properties mechanical properties[24]
The results demonstrated that structures existed internal structure of hydrogels macroporous andin the mesoporous structures existed simultaneously
Summary
During medical treatment and care, oral administration is always convenient and efficient. Hydrogel is a kind of hydrophilic, 3-D network polymer material It is formed by physical or chemical cross-linking [3,4,5]. The stimuli responsiveness of hydrogel makes it potential material for drug release, which has been proved in previous studies [10,11,12]. Cross-linking mechanism or pore structure of hydrogels may be the cause of stimuli responsiveness, which has not been revealed. A pH- and ion intensity stimuli-responsive silk fibroin/chitosan hydrogel was prepared by chemical cross-linking. In order to determine if the SF/CS composite hydrogel has ideal physical properties and stimuli responsiveness for controlled drug release, some characterizations have been conducted, including mechanical strength, swelling performance, and drug release behaviors. SEM, N2 adsorption—desorption, FTIR, XRD, thermogravimetric properties, and rheological behavior were investigated to study the relations between structure and properties
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