Optical microrheology measurements for determination of sol-gel transitions of chitosan hydrogels

• Published in: Journal of physics. Conference series Vol. 602; no. 1; pp. 12040 - 12043
• Main Authors: Domagalski, P, Orczykowska, M, Owczarz, P, Dziubinski, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 15.04.2015
• Subjects: Body temperature; Chitosan; Copolymers; Drug carriers; Ethyl cellulose; Glycolic acid; Hydrogels; Hydroxyethyl celluloses; Lactic acid; passive optical microrheology; Pharmacology; Phase transitions; Physics; Polyethylene glycol; Polyethylene oxide; Polyisopropyl acrylamide; Polymers; Polypropylene glycol; Polysaccharides; Sol-gel processes; sol-gel transition; Sols
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/602/1/012040
• ISSN: 1742-6588

The combination of medicinal substance and an appropriate polymer matrix with specially adjusted permeability has became a basic form of medicine in the controlled drag delivery. One of main solutions used recently in pharmacology is the application of polymer matrices which form colloidal systems. The sol-gel phase transition is inhibited by a change of pH or temperature. Thermosensitive systems are produced from polymers whose sol-gel transition in water solutions depends on temperature. Thermosensitive hydrogel systems are currently obtained mainly from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA), copolymer (polyethylene oxide - polypropylene oxide - polyethylene oxide), polyethylene glycol, lactic acid copolymer with glycolic acid and polyethylene glycol, and polysaccharides (xyloglucane, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose and chitosan). At the temperature below 25°C these systems occur in the form of sols which at human body temperature are transformed into gels. Such systems belong to the so called intelligent ones and are a subject of special interest, particularly in view of their possible use as drug carriers and also as material for cell culture in the past.