Dual responsive tamarind gum-co-poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-ethylene glycol vinyl ether) hydrogel: A promising device for colon specific anti-cancer drug delivery

Abstract

In this study, pH and temperature-sensitive tamarind gum (TM)-based hydrogels were synthesized by free radical polymerization using a combination of acrylamide (AM), N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM), and ethylene glycol vinyl ether (EGVE) monomers with bis (2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphate (BMEP) as a crosslinker (TANEB hydrogel). The prepared TANEB hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy to confirm the formation of functional group interactions and morphology. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) as a model drug was loaded into the TANEB hydrogels. Differential thermal calorimetry and XRD confirmed the molecularly loaded 5-FU into TANEB hydrogels. Swelling studies revealed the dual responsive nature of the TANEB hydrogels. An in vitro drug release study was performed at pH 1.2 and 7.4 and at 25 and 37 °C. The release time of 5-FU from the hydrogels was extended up to 12 h. Also, 5FU encapsulated hydrogels showed remarkable cytotoxicity against human colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer cells (HCT116 cells) along with good cell cycle ability. Thus, the TANEB hydrogel formulations could be used as potential delivery system for anticancer drugs.