Molecular Imprinting of Cyclodextrin Supramolecular Hydrogels Improves Drug Loading and Delivery

Abstract

Cyclodextrin‐based controlled delivery materials have previously been developed for controlled release of different therapeutic drugs. In this study, a supramolecular hydrogel made from cyclodextrin‐based macromonomers is subjected to molecular imprinting to investigate the impact on release kinetics and drug loading, when compared with non‐imprinted, or alternately imprinted hydrogels. Mild synthesis conditions are used to molecularly imprint three antibiotics—novobiocin, rifampicin, and vancomycin—and to test two different hydrogel chemistries. The release profile and drug loading of the molecularly imprinted hydrogels are characterized using ultraviolet spectroscopy over a period of 35 days and compared to non‐imprinted, and alternately imprinted hydrogels. While only modest differences are observed in the release rate of the antibiotics tested, a substantial difference is observed in the total drug‐loading amount possible for hydrogels releasing drugs which has been templated by those drugs. Hydrogels releasing drugs which are templated by other drugs do not show improved release or loading. Analysis by FTIR does not show substantial incorporation of drug into the polymer. Lastly, bioactivity assays confirmed long‐term stability and release of incorporated antibiotics.

Resveratrol Delivery from Implanted Cyclodextrin Polymers Provides Sustained Antioxidant Effect on Implanted Neural Probes

“…Loaded pCD was then removed from the solution, blotted, and briefly washed in excess water to remove surface DMF and free (uncomplexed) resveratrol prior to drying at room temperature. Previous work by the von Recum lab demonstrated small molecule interactions with cyclodextrin through FTIR and SPR, hence confirming the pCD to be a drug delivery system [52,91,92].…”

Affinity Effects on the Release of Non-Conventional Antifibrotics from Polymer Depots

“…Still, the use of single molecule affinity interactions are limited in their predictive capacity for the performance of a polymer network. Multiple binding interactions, such as in molecularly imprinted polymers, may further sustain drug release or improve drug-loading efficiency and specificity [41][42][43]. Table 2.…”

Supramolecular Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

“…Next, von Recum and colleagues describe a hydrogel platform prepared from a covalently crosslinked network of a β-cyclodextrin pre-polymer for the controlled release of a variety of antibiotic drugs. [23] Through the use of mild synthesis conditions, these hydrogels can be prepared by crosslinking in the presence of a drug guest, a technique known as molecular imprinting. The release rate of encapsulated drug is not dramatically altered for materials where molecular imprinting is employed compared to those where the drug is added after hydrogel formation.…”