Synthesis, Characteristics and Potential Application of Poly(β-Amino Ester Urethane)-Based Multiblock Co-Polymers as an Injectable, Biodegradable and pH/Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogel System

Abstract

Physical polymeric hydrogels have significant potential for use as injectable depot drug/protein-delivery systems. In this study, a series of novel injectable, biodegradable and pH/temperature-sensitive multiblock co-polymer physical hydrogels composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(β-amino ester urethane) (PEU) was synthesized by the polyaddition between the isocyanate groups of 1,6-diisocyanato hexamethylene and the hydroxyl groups of PEG and a synthesized monomer BTB (or ETE) in chloroform in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. The synthesized co-polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gel-permeation chromatography. Aqueous solutions of the co-polymers showed a sol-to-gel phase transition with increasing pH and a gel-to-sol phase transition with increasing temperature. The gel regions covered the physiological conditions (37°C, pH 7.4) and could be controlled by changing the molecular weight of PEG, PEG/PEU ratio and co-polymer solution concentration. A gel formed rapidly in situ after injecting the co-polymer solution subcutaneously into SD rats and remained for more than 2 weeks in the body. The cytotoxicity tests confirmed the non-cytotoxicity of this co-polymer hydrogel. The controlled in vitro release of the model anticancer drug, doxorubicin, from this hydrogel occurred over a 7-day period. This hydrogel is a potential candidate for biomedical applications and drug/protein-delivery systems.