Stabilization of polymer-hydrogel capsules via thiol-disulfide exchange

Siow Feng Chong, Rona Chandrawati, Brigitte Städler, Jeongju Park, Jinhan Cho, Yajun Wang, Zhongfan Jia, Volga Bulmus, Thomas P. Davis, Alexander N. Zelikin, Frank Caruso

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

89 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Polymer hydrogels are used in diverse biomedical applications including drug delivery and tissue engineering. Among different chemical linkages, the natural and reversible thiol-disulfide interconversion is extensively explored to stabilize hydrogels. The creation of macro-, micro-, and nanoscale disulfide-stabilized hydrogels commonly relies on the use of oxidizing agents that may have a detrimental effect on encapsulated cargo. Herein an oxidization-free approach to create disulfide-stabilized polymer hydrogels via a thiol-disulfide exchange reaction is reported. In particular, thiolated poly(methacrylic acid) is used and the conditions of polymer crosslinking in solution and on colloidal porous and solid microparticles are established. In the latter case, removal of the core particles yields stable, hollow,disulfide-crosslinked hydrogel capsules. Further, a procedure is developed to achieve efficient disulfide crosslinking of multilayered polymer films to obtain stable, liposome-loaded polymer-hydrogel capsules that contain functional enzymatic cargo within the liposomal subcompartments. This approach is envisaged to facilitate the development ofbiomedical applications of hydrogels, specifically those including fragile cargo.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2601-2610
Number of pages10
JournalSmall
Volume5
Issue number22
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009 Nov 16
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Capsosomes
  • Crosslinkers
  • Hydrogels
  • Layer-by-layer assembly
  • Poly(methacrylic acid)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biomaterials
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Science(all)

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