Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Induced by Dual Supramolecular Assemblies and Its Controlled Release Property for Enhanced Anticancer Drug Delivery

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00077
• Publication Date: 2020-03-11T15:25:49Z
• Authors: Xia Song; Zhongxing Zhang; Jingling Zhu; Yuting Wen; Feng Zhao; Lijie Lei; Nhan Phan-Thien; Boo Cheong Khoo; Jun Li
• Keywords: Supramolecular Polymers; Hydrophobic effect

Supramolecular hydrogels based on inclusion complexation between cyclodextrins (CDs) and polymers have attracted much interest because of their potential for biomedical applications. It is also attractive to incorporate stimuli-responsive properties into the system create "smart" hydrogels. Herein, a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) star polymer with β-CD core an adamantyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (Ad-PEG) were synthesized. They self-assembled thermoresponsive pseudo-block copolymer through host–guest formed supramolecular micelles change in environment temperature. Subsequently, injectable polypseudorotaxane-based hydrogel was α-CD PEG chains copolymer. The had unique network structure involving two types self-assemblies polymers, that is, units adamantyl groups polypseudorotaxane formation chains. We hypothesize dual at room temperature may be enhanced by increasing over lower critical solution PNIPAAm hydrophobic interactions segments. Furthermore, if applied sustained delivery drugs, dissolved from could micellize continue serve as micellar drug carriers encapsulated core. Rheological tests revealed segments significantly enhance strength when increased 25 37 °C. As compared alone, release property this anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), improved slowly released form continued DOX core, achieving better cellular uptake effect than free controls, even multidrug-resistant cancer cells. According these findings, developed work remarkable might therapeutic