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Modified alginate for biomedical applications

  • University of Massachusetts

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hydrophobically modified alginate (HMA) was synthesized by attaching n-octylamine groups on to the alginate backbone at low pH. At or above a critical concentration, HMA forms a physical gel in aqueous media due to hydrophobic interactions. Unreacted guluronic units of alginate were further crosslinked with divalent cations, such as Ca2+. Uniform gels were obtained by slow release of calcium ions from a calcium-ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (Ca-EDTA) complex with the addition of D-glucono-δ-lactone (GDL). Mechanically stiffer gels of storage moduli ∼ 100 kPa were obtained at a relatively low polymer concentration of 2 wt% in the crosslinked gels. Solubility of a model lipophilic drug, sulindac, in HMA was found to be greatly improved compared to neat alginate, presumably due to preferential uptake of the drugs by micelles formed by the hydrophobic moiety. Extended release of sulindac was observed for upto 5-6 days, probably due to stronger crosslinked alginate units surrounding the hydrophobic rich domains. Small angle x-ray scattering data suggest a strong influence of hydrophobic group on the nanometer-scale structure, especially in the uncrosslinked state.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Material Design for Regenerative Medicine, Drug Delivery and Targeting/Imaging
Pages137-141
Number of pages5
StatePublished - 2009
EventMRS Fall Meeting 2008: Advances in Material Design for Regenerative Medicine, Drug Delivery and Targeting/Imaging - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: Dec 1 2008Dec 3 2008

Publication series

NameMaterials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
Volume1140
ISSN (Print)0272-9172

Conference

ConferenceMRS Fall Meeting 2008: Advances in Material Design for Regenerative Medicine, Drug Delivery and Targeting/Imaging
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston, MA
Period12/1/0812/3/08

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