2-Thiobarbituric acid addition improves structural integrity and controlled drug delivery of biocompatible pectin hydrogels

Guner O. Z. , Kocaaga B., Batirel S. , Kurkcuoglu O., Guner F. S.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS, 2020 (Journal Indexed in SCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume:
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/00914037.2020.1760272
  • Title of Journal : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS
  • Keywords: Biopolymers, drug delivery systems, hydrogels, molecular dynamics, simulations, IN-VITRO EVALUATION, THIOLATED POLYMERS, CROSS-LINKING, SYSTEMS

Abstract

Thiolated polymers are commonly preferred for biomedical applications with their good permeation properties providing them higher bioavailability. However, the thiolation process is mostly time-consuming series of chemical reactions. This study describes a simple irreversible thiol group integration to the pectin hydrogels by noncovalent bonding. We used 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) for thiolation. We proved with full-atom molecular dynamics simulations and experimental methods that TBA desertion is negligible. Pectin hydrogels become more flexible and their disintegration is delayed from 4 h up to four days with TBA addition. Also, hydrogels can successfully deliver the model drug, theophylline, showing a controlled release profile.