Preparation, Characteristics, and Biological Activity of Chitosan Thermosensitive Hydrogel Loaded With Berberine Hydrochloride‐Ser‐β‐Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex

ABSTRACT In this study, Ser‐β‐CD was synthesized, and BBH/Ser‐β‐CD IC was prepared by the freeze‐drying method and characterized by FTIR, 1 H NMR, phase solubility, and SEM. Then, the BBH/Ser‐β‐CD IC@CS hydrogel was prepared by the BBH/Ser‐β‐CD IC and CS with GP as the crosslinking agent. The effect on hydrogel properties was investigated by altering (CS+BBH/Ser‐β‐CD IC) % (w/v), CS/(BBH/Ser‐β‐CD IC) (w/w), and (CS+BBH/Ser‐β‐CD IC)/GP (v/v). The FTIR results proved the interaction between hydrogel molecules. The SEM results confirmed the porous structure of the hydrogel. Meanwhile, hydrogels have been proven to have good swelling properties. The in vitro release results indicated that the hydrogel had a sustained‐release effect, and the release mechanism of BBH from the hydrogel conformed to the first‐order kinetic model. The DPPH scavenging capacity of hydrogels was comparable to that of Vc. The hemolysis test confirmed that the hydrogel had good biocompatibility. The antibacterial investigation proved that the hydrogel had an inhibitory effect on E. coli or S. aureus . Therefore, BBH/Ser‐β‐CD IC@CS hydrogel has broad prospects in the research and development of drug sustained‐release and antibacterial materials.