In-vitro drug release and stability assessment of tailored levan–chitosan biocomposite hydrogel

• Published in: Iranian polymer journal Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 11 - 23
• Main Authors: Veerapandian, Bhuvaneshwari, Selvaraj, Thirupathi Kumara Raja, Shanmugam, Saravanan Ramiah, Sarwareddy, Kartik Kumar, Mani, Krishna Priya, Venkatachalam, Ponnusami
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.01.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Cell adhesion; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chitosan; Composite materials; Composites; Crosslinking; Fibroblasts; Glass; Hydrogels; Natural Materials; Oleoresins; Original Research; Oxidation; Polymer Sciences; Regeneration (physiology); Stability analysis; Sustained release; Swelling ratio; Thermal stability; Tissue engineering; Wound healing; Wound dressing; Chitosan; Hydrogel; Levan; Cytocompatibility
• ISSN: 1026-1265; 1735-5265
• DOI: 10.1007/s13726-023-01229-x

An oxidized levan–chitosan (OLC) cross-linked hydrogel, a 3D network polymeric material, was prepared. Spectroscopic techniques confirmed the oxidation of levan and imine bond formation during cross-linking mechanism. The gelation time for OLC was less than 10 min and the gel exhibited viscoelastic properties with highly interconnected porous structures. The obtained OLC-gel exhibited better thermal stability compared to pristine levan. It was found that the OLC exhibited pH-dependent swelling behavior. The swelling ratio of OLC-gel at three different pH values indicates high hydrophilic nature in the order of pH 2.6 > pH 9.0 > pH 7.4. The hemolytic activity (3%) shown by the hydrogel was found to be within the clinical acceptance level (< 5%). OLC-gel loaded with turmeric oleoresin with 8.28% curcumin content showed a sustained release rate over 24 h. The kinetic release profile of the OLC-gel followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model with non-Fickian release transport. The synthesized OLC-gel exhibited good cytocompatibility when tested against L929 fibroblast cells. The formed OLC-gel supported cell adhesion and proliferation of fibroblast cells which could support tissue regeneration at the wound site. The characteristics of OLC-gels suggested that OLC has excellent potential to serve as a wound dressing material. Graphical abstract