Development of sustainable carrier in thermosensitive hydrogel based on chitosan/alginate nanoparticles for in situ delivery system

Abstract

A biodegradable hydrogel with thermosensitive properties and controlled release based on the core‐shell polymers chitosan/sodium alginate nanoparticles (CS/SA NPs) constituted an in situ drug delivery system (DDS). The hydrogel composites was prepared in which nanoparticles loading bovine serum albumin were added to the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) mixture solution. The CS/SA NPs were physically synthesized using a nanoemulsion technique. The nanoparticles were successfully prepared and assessed via a size analyzer, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, and differential scanning calorimetry. The gelation behaviors of HPMC hydrogel composites were monitored using a visual tube inversion method at different temperatures. And glycerol mixed in HPMC solution promoted the gelation and lowered the phase transition temperature. The composite thermosensitive hydrogel including drug‐loaded nanoparticles showed a physiological pH ranging from 6.8 to 6.9 and an excellent gelation time within 1.0 min at 37°C. Moreover, the drug release data showed that the sustained release time lasted for 9 days with a total cumulative release rate of 78%, and the degradation of HPMC hydrogel containing lysozyme was almost completed after 7 days (82.66 ± 1.23%). The composite thermosensitive hydrogel had good thermosensitivity and biodegradability, as well as significantly enhanced the controlled release, showing a promising potential for its usage in situ DDSs. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2187–2196, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers