In
this work, 6-phosphogluconic trisodium salt (6-PG–Na+) is introduced as a new aqueous and nontoxic cross-linking
agent to obtain ionic hydrogels. Here, it is shown the formation of
hydrogels based on chitosan cross-linked with 6-PG–Na+. This formulation is obtained by ionic interaction
of cationic groups of polymer with anionic groups of the cross-linker.
These hydrogels are nontoxic, do not cause dermal irritation, are
easy to extend, and have an adequate adhesion force to be applied
as polymeric film over the skin. This formulation exhibits a first
order release kinetic and can be applied as drug vehicle for topical
administration or as wound dressing for wound healing. The primary
goal of this communication is to report the identification and utility
of 6-phosphogluconic trisodium salt (6-PG–Na+) as a nontoxic cross-linker applicable for cationic polymers.
Nanohydrogels based on natural polymers, such as polysaccharides, are gaining interest as vehicles for therapeutic agents, as they can modify the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the carried drugs. In this work, hyaluronan-riboflavin nanohydrogels were tested in vivo in healthy rats highlighting their lack of toxicity, even at high doses, and their different biodistribution with respect to that of native hyaluronan. They were also exploited as carriers of a hydrophobic model drug, the anti-inflammatory piroxicam, that was physically embedded within the nanohydrogels by an autoclave treatment. The nanoformulation was tested by intravenous administration showing an improvement of the pharmacokinetic parameters of the molecule. The obtained results indicate that hyaluronan-based self-assembled nanohydrogels are suitable systems for low-soluble drug administration, by increasing the dose as well as the circulation time of poorly available therapeutic agents.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.