Search results for " hydrogel"

Swellable microparticles containing Suprofen: evaluation of in vitro release and photochemical behaviour

1998

Suprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug was incorporated in polymer networks based on biocompatible macromolecules, such as alpha,beta-polyasparthydrazide (PAHy) and alpha,beta-poly(N-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA) crosslinked by glutaraldehyde or gamma-rays, respectively. Swelling tests carried out in aqueous media showed that pH value affects the swelling degree of the prepared hydrogels. In vitro release tests were performed in simulated gastrointestinal fluids (pH 1/6.8) using the pH variation method and in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4. Experimental data indicated that Suprofen was released in a sustained way both from PAHy and PHEA microparticles. Further, incorporation of Suprof…

“Dumb” pH-Independent and Biocompatible Hydrogels Formed by Copolymers of Long-Chain Alkyl Glycidyl Ethers and Ethylene Oxide

2020

The formation and rheological properties of hydrogels based on amphiphilic ABA triblock polyether copolymers are described, relying solely on the hydrophobic interaction of long-chain alkyl glycidyl ether (AlkGE)- based A-blocks that are combined with a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) midblock. Via anionic ring-opening copolymerization (AROP), ethylene oxide (EO) and long-chain alkyl glycidyl ethers (AlkGEs) were copolymerized, using deprotonated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macroinitiators (Mn of 10, 20 kg mol-1). The polymerization afforded amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers with molar masses in the range of 21-32 kg mol-1 and dispersities (Đ) of Đ = 1.07-1.17. Kinetic studies rev…

Humic Substances: From Supramolecular Aggregation to Fractal Conformation—Is There Time for a New Paradigm?

2023

Natural organic matter, including humic substances (HS), comprises complex secondary structures with no defined covalent chemical bonds and stabilized by inter- and intra-molecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, Van der Waal’s forces, and pi-pi interactions. The latest view describes HS aggregates as a hydrogel-like structure comprised by a hydrophobic core of aromatic residues surrounded by polar and amphiphilic molecules akin a self-assembled soft material. A different view is based on the classification of this material as either mass or surface fractals. The former is intended as made by the clustering of macromolecules generating dendritic networks, while the latter have been …

Functional hydrogels containing polyaniline nanoparticles through e-beam irradiation

2009

STRATEGIE PER IL MIGLIORAMENTO DELLA PRODUZIONE E LO SVILUPPO DI MOLECOLE AD ATTIVITÀ ANTIBIOTICA DI ORIGINE NATURALE O DI SINTESI CHIMICA

The emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains is an urgent problem derived from the widespread and uncontrolled use of antibiotics. Therefore, new arrays of lead compounds exerting antimicrobial activity are necessary to contrast the spreading of MDR pathogens. Between 1980 and 2003, the interest in scientific research programs aimed to the new drug discovery by large pharmaceutical companies progressively decreased due to increasing costs in the respect of i) the low discovery rate of new leads, ii) the small amounts of product recovery needing process optimization and, finally, iii) regulatory obstacles associated with long-lasting pre-clinical and clinical trials for ther…

Dynamics of myoglobin in confinement: An elastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering study

2008

In order to clarify the role of hard confinement on protein dynamics, elastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering experiments have been performed on ferric horse myoglobin in two different systems: the protein embedded in a porous silica matrix, and the corresponding hydrated protein powder. Elastic data have been analysed using two different models (dynamical heterogeneity and anharmonic double-well potential) that take into account deviations of elastic intensity from Gaussian behaviour. The profile of quasi-elastic spectra has been approximated by a combination of Lorentzian and Gaussian components. Comparison between the data relative to the two different samples indicates that geometr…

Blue light activated photodegradation of biomacromolecules by N-doped titanium dioxide in a chitosan hydrogel matrix

2023

The use of photocatalysis activated by titanium dioxide nanostructured materials is a promising solution for many biomedical applications ranging from drug-free antibacterial to anticancer therapies, as well as for innovative hydrogel-supported phototherapies. This makes the effects of photocatalysis on the structure of biomolecules of a great relevance in order to define the applicability of photocatalytic materials in the biomedical fields. In this work, the effects of nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO2) dispersed in a biocompatible chitosan/PEG hydrogel on myoglobin and bovine serum albumin as target model proteins were investigated. The efficiency of this composite biocompatible ma…

Functionalization of a polyaspartamide with glycidyl methacrylate: A useful method to prepare hydrogels through gamma irradiation

1999

α-β-Poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA) was derivatized with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). Aqueous solutions of the obtained copolymer PHEA-GMA (PHG) were irradiated by gamma rays with a dose rate of 0.5 KGy/h and at zero °C in the presence or in the absence of N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS). New hydrogel systems were obtained and characterized by FT-IR analyses and swelling measurements in aqueous medium at different pH values.

Hydrogels containing 5-Fluorouracil obtained by γ-irradiation. Synthesis, characterization and in vitro release studies

2001

The functionalization of α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-dl-aspartamide (PHEA) with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) gives rise to a water-soluble copolymer PHEA-GMA (PHG) containing double bonds and ester groups in the side chain. Aqueous solutions of PHG alone or in combination with N,N′ methylenbisacrylamide (BIS) have been exposed to a γ-ray source at different irradiation doses in order to obtain polymeric networks. All samples have been prepared both as water-swellable microparticles and as gel systems. Microparticles have been characterized by FT-IR spectrophotometry and swelling measurements in aqueous media mimicking biological fluids. The effect of irradiation dose and BIS presence on rheol…

New biodegradable hydrogels based on a photocrosslinkable modified polyaspartamide: synthesis and characterization

1999

Abstract α,β-Poly( N -2-hydroxyethyl)- dl -aspartamide (PHEA), a synthetic water-soluble biocompatible polymer, was derivatized with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), in order to introduce in its structure chemical residues having double bonds and ester groups. The obtained copolymer (PHG) contained 29 mol% of GMA residues. PHG aqueous solutions at various concentrations ranging from 30 to 70 mg/ml were exposed to a source of UV rays at λ 254 nm in the presence or in the absence of N , N ′-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS); the formation of compact gel phases was observed beginning from 50 mg/ml. The obtained networks were characterized by FT-IR spectrophotometry and swelling measurements which evide…