pH-Sensitive Hydrogels Based on Bovine Serum Albumin for Anticancer Drug Delivery

摘要

Protein conjugates consisting of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and acrylic acid monomers in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were prepared by gamma irradiation to examine the potential use of these hydrogels in the controlled drug release systems. Thestudy parameter was the BSA content in the as-prepared conjugates. Polymers were characterized with FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and swelling studies. The polymerization reaction caused the rearrangement of the BSA carbonyl hydrogen bonding and finally led to the modification of the BSA secondary structure as proved byFTIR. SEM proved that the prepared conjugates matricesare porous, with a three-dimensional interconnectedmicrostructure. The swelling kinetics of the hydrogels andthe release dynamics of an anticancer model drug (flutamide)have been studied. High equilibrium swelling values,up to 1550, could be observed and were correlatedwith the increase in pH, temperature, and BSA content.The mechanism of swelling changed from Fickian to non-Fickian by reducing the acidity of the medium. This studyproved that there is a direct relationship between the proteincontent in the conjugates and both the loaded and thereleased drug. These pH responsive conjugates may beexploited for the delivery of flutamide.