IN SITU FORMED HYDROGELS: OPTIMIZATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION

LUCIANO N. MENGATTO, JUAN I. PESOA, NATALIA S. VELÁZQUEZ Y JULIO A. LUNA

Viña del Mar

Taller; 3º Taller de Órganos Artificiales, Biomateriales e Ingeniería de Tejidos; 2013

Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias-Universidad de Chile

Chitosan hydrogels prepared with different methods are of great interest in drug delivery, cell encapsulation and tissue engineering and repair. The aim of this work was the optimization of thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels preparation intended for controlled drug release using statistical procedures. A factorial design was built in order to determine the main factors related with gel-forming solution preparation that affect the following responses: pH of the gel-forming solution, gelling time at ambient temperature and 37.5 ºC, and residual mass. It was found that chitosan concentration, β-Glycerophosphate concentration and mixing temperature were significant factors. Therefore, these factors were considered for the optimization study in a central composite design. The optimization process based on response surface methodology allows the development of statistical models, which describe the relationship between active independent factors and the studied responses. The optimization of the preparation of thermosensitive chitosan gel was achieved, and a hydrogel with desired responses was successfully prepared. Paclitaxel, an anticancer drug, was included in the optimized hydrogel and the system was assayed for in vitro drug release. Paclitaxel was release in a controlled manner during a long period of time.