NOVEL INJECTABLE HYBRID HYDROGELS AS BIOCOMPATIBLE AND BIODEGRADABLE MATRICES FOR PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Hydrogels are cross-linked 3-dimensional polymeric networks displaying viscoelastic behavior and tissue-like mechanical properties1. Thermosensitive hydrogels are particularly promising materials as they allow for minimally invasive administration2. In this work, a new biodegradable and thermosensitive hydrogel as drug delivery and tissue engineering system was developed.Methods. Hydrogels were tested for gelation kinetics by vial tilting method, mechanical properties by rheology (Physica – MCR 101 (Anton Paar) rheometer, 1Hz and 1% strain), degradation and release behavior by tests in phosphate buffer (PBS) pH 7.4 at 37°C. Hydrogel cytocompatibility with mouse bone marrow stromal cell (BMSCs) and NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay. Biocompatibility in vivo was assessed upon subcutaneous administration of placebo hydrogels in Balb/C mice. Rapidly gelling thermosensitive hydrogels with good cyto/biocompatibility and capability to controllably release active peptides were developed. This hydrogel technology holds great potential in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields.