Carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan: a novel thermosensitive hydrogel forming polysaccharide for drug delivery applications

A carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan (Scl-CM) with a derivatization degree of 65 +/- 5% was synthesized. The rheological behaviour of this novel polymer was studied and compared with that of the starting polymer. We observed that the charged moieties carried on the chains could prevent the triple helix formation of Scl. Scl-CM aqueous solutions behave like true polymer solutions up to 1% w/v, whereas above this concentration a weak gel behaviour was observed. CaCl(2) addition to aqueous Scl-CM solutions led to a physical gel formation; the hydrogel strength was related to polymer and CaCl(2) concentrations. Temperature sweeps, registered at 1 Hz on hydrogels differing in CaCl(2) concentration, evidenced a gel --> sol transition in the range of 30-40 degrees C, depending on the molar ratio between carboxylic groups and Ca(+2). In order to verify a possible use of these hydrogels as drug delivery systems, acyclovir was loaded into the network. Rheological analysis evidenced that the loaded drug can affect the hydrogel elastic modulus. The release of acyclovir in phosphate buffer was evaluated at different temperatures in order to assess the suitability of this novel drug delivery system in topical applications.

Physical gels of a carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan: Synthesis and characterization

A carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan (Scl-CM) was synthesized and characterized through FT-IR, 1H NMR and potentiometer titration. Rheological studies allowed evidencing the effect produced by the introduction of the carboxymethyl moiety on the native polymer. The mechanical spectrum of the scleroglucan solution showed a weak gel behaviour, while the derivative one looked like a system near the gel point, that evolved to a gel state depending on the concentration. This difference could be related to conformational changes due to the introduction of the negative charges on the chains. Different concentrations of Ca2+, added to the aqueous solutions of Scl-CM, were able to deeply modify the resulting system, showing a sharp transition toward a gel like behaviour. Acyclovir was loaded into the hydrogels obtained with different amounts of polymer and salt. The release rate of the drug from these systems was strictly related to both concentrations of salt and polymer. The obtained results suggest a possible employment of these new hydrogels for topical formulations or in situ implantation.

A novel co-crosslinked polysaccharide: studies for a controlled delivery matrix

The formulation of a new controlled delivery system, based on a novel type of matrix obtained by the chemical reaction carried out in an aqueous medium on a mixed physical gel of gellan and scleroglucan, is described in this paper. The preparation yielded a new co-crosslinked polysaccharide (CCP) hydrogel, bearing carboxylic groups, that showed a sustained release behaviour that can be modulated by means of calcium ions. For the characterization of CCP, diffusion experiments through the swelled hydrogel were carried out in different environmental conditions and the release from tablets prepared with CCP and a model drug was evaluated. The addition of CaCl2 in the formulation of the dosage forms allowed a further marked reduction in delivery rate to be obtained; this effect is to be related to the free ionized carboxylic groups still present in the gellan moiety of CCP. The different behaviour of Ca+2 and Na+ ions is discussed.