Synthesis and characterization of polysialic acid/carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel with potential for drug delivery

A novel hydrogel was prepared from polysialic acid (PSA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) using glutaraldehyde as the cross-linking agent. The resulting PSA-CMCS hydrogel exhibited pH sensitivity, in which the swelling ratio under acidic conditions was higher than those under neutral or alkaline conditions. The swelling ratio of PSA-CMCS hydrogel at equilibrium depended on the medium pH, the cross-linking agent concentration, and the ratio of PSA to CMCS (w/w). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were used as model drugs to prepare hydrogel delivery systems. The loading efficiencies of the hydrogel for BSA and 5-FU were 26.25 and 36.74%, respectively. Release behaviors of BSA and 5-FU were influenced by the pH. MTT assays confirmed that PSA-CMCS hydrogel has no cytotoxicity toward the NIH-3T3 cell line; in fact, the 100% aqueous extract of the PSA-CMCS hydrogel enhanced cell growth. These results suggest that PSA-CMCS hydrogel may be a promising pH-sensitive delivery system, especially for hydrophobic chemicals.