Abstract
Stimuli-responsive biomaterials have attracted significant attention for the construction of on-demand drug release systems. The possibility of using external stimulation to trigger drug release is particularly enticing for hydrophobic compounds, which are not easily released by simple diffusion. In this work, an electrochemically active hydrogel, which has been prepared by gelling a mixture of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and alginate (Alg), has been loaded with curcumin (CUR), a hydrophobic drug with a wide spectrum of clinical applications. The PEDOT/Alg hydrogel is electrochemically active and organizes as segregated PEDOT- and Alg-rich domains, explaining its behavior as an electroresponsive drug delivery system. When loaded with CUR, the hydrogel demonstrates a controlled drug release upon application of a negative electrical voltage. Comparison with the release profiles obtained applying a positive voltage and in the absence of electrical stimuli indicates that the release mechanism dominating this system is complex because of not only the intermolecular interactions between the drug and the polymeric network but also the loading of a hydrophobic drug in a water-containing delivery system.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
