Fabricating psyllium polysaccharide derived mucoadhesive hydrogels by covalent functionalization: Drug delivery and biomedical assessment

Exploring nature derived polymers for fabricating materials has widened the prospects of science and technology supporting sustainable growth and the formation of health care products. Functional polysaccharide derived hydrogels (HYGL) can enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of drug delivery (DD) carriers. The innovative aspects of the present research are to utilize the pharmacological bioactive psyllium (PSYL) to design DD carriers loaded with anticancer drug dacarbazine (DCZ) wherein the polysaccharide itself has some therapeutic activity in suppressing cancer. Herein, network HYGL were designed through copolymerization of PSYL, [poly(vinyl sulphonic acid) P(VSA) & poly(acrylic acid) P(AAc)] for use in colon specific DD devices. Morphological characterization (FESEM, EDS, AFM, & XRD), spectroscopic analysis (FTIR, & solid state 13 C NMR), DD, and biomedical investigations of HYGL were performed. The FESEM analysis revealed the non-uniform morphology & AFM demonstrated surface roughness which is useful to provide bio-adhesion to HYGL. Bioadhesion of the material was found to be 215 ± 8 mN force, which was required to disassemble it from the bio-membrane. FTIR & 13 C NMR spectra analysis described the integration of synthetic components in HYGL. The drug release exhibited a non-Fickian diffusion type mechanism from drug encapsulated HYGL and release profile best described by zero order kinetics. The material also revealed a non-haemolytic character and demonstrated antioxidant activity and showed 77.814 ± 0.193 % DPPH radical scavenging inhibition. Overall, material could be explored for designing the DD devices. • FE-SEM and AFM revealed uneven morphology and surface topology of hydrogels. • The hydrogels demonstrated pH responsive swelling and drug delivery properties. • The hydrogels displayed non-haemolytic, antioxidant and mucoadhesive nature. • Sustained release of drug occurred with non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. • Release data was best fitted in Zero order kinetic model.