Unveiling pro-angiogenesis and drug delivery using dual-bio polymer with bio-ceramic based nanocomposite hydrogels

Abstract

In regenerative medicine, blood vessel development is of utmost importance as it enables the restoration of blood flow to tissues, and facilitate rapid vascularization in clinical tissue-engineered grafts. Herein, we fabricate the nanocomposite hydrogels from BG (clinophosinaite), alginate, Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Dexamethasone (DEX) for the dual applications of drug delivery and angiogenesis assay. The hydrogels were fabricated through cross-linking approach and termed as alginate/PEG (A), alginate/PEG/clinophosinaite (AC), and alginate/PEG/clinophosinaite/DEX (ACD) that further subjected to structural characterization, using powder X-ray diffraction, and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Porous nanostructures and sheets were imaged using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), which aid in nutrient and oxygen transport to support angiogenesis. The nanocomposite hydrogels evidently demonstrated good hemocompatibility and fully hydrophilic (30.20°). By means of liquid displacement technique, the nanocomposite hydrogel achieves 47% of porosity with the compressive strength about 0.04 MPa. In alginate/PEG/clinophosinaite and alginate/PEG/clinophosinaite/DEX systems, water absorption capacity reached 85% in 6 h and maintained 90% retention after 12 h. Further, leachable tests revealed that the hydrogel had not deformed even after 24 h. In vitro drug release studies evidently divulge sustainable delivery of DEX from alginate/PEG/clinophosinaite/DEX hydrogel with superior characteristics for drug release. The angiogenesis assay also evidently revealed that the AC and ACD hydrogels, demonstrated higher angiogenic properties with, promoted blood vessel development.