Injectable dual redox responsive diselenide-containing poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel

Gong, C (Gong, Chu)^[ 1 ] ; Shan, M (Shan, Meng)^[ 1 ] ; Li, BQ (Li, Bingqiang)^[ 1 ] ; Wu, GL (Wu, Guolin)^[ 1 ]

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A, 2017, 105(9): 2451-2460

DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36103

 WOS:000406308500007

Abstract

An injectable dual redox responsive diselenide-containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel was successfully developed by combining the conceptions of injectable hydrogels and dual redox responsive diselenides. In the first step, four-armed PEG was modified with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-activated esters and thereafter, crosslinked by selenocystamine crosslinkers to form injectable hydrogels via the rapid reaction between NHS-activated esters and amino groups. The cross-sectional morphology, mechanical properties, and crosslinking modes of hydrogels were well characterized via scanning electron microscope (SEM), rheological measurements, and Fourier transform infrared spectra, respectively. In addition, the oxidation- and reduction-responsive degradation behaviors of hydrogels were observed and analyzed. The model drug, rhodamine B, was encapsulated in the hydrogel. The drug-loaded hydrogel exhibited a dual redox responsive release profile, which was consistent with the degradation experiments. The results of all experiments indicated that the formulated injectable dual redox responsive diselenide-containing PEG hydrogel can have potential applications in various biomedical fields such as drug delivery and stimuli-responsive drug release. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.