Nanoengineered PEG/acrylic acid smart hydrogels for controlled oxaliplatin delivery and enhanced biocompatibility

The current study was based on the preparation of pH-sensitive chemically cross-linked polyethylene glycol-co-poly(acrylic acid) PEGA 8000 Smart gels for colon targeting of Oxaliplatin (OXP). PEG 8000-based Smart gels were fabricated by the free radical polymerization technique. PEG 8000 was cross-linked with acrylic acid (AA) in an aqueous medium. Ammonium persulphate (APS) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were used as initiator and cross-linker, respectively. OXP was loaded into developed Smart gels in a buffer solution of pH 7.4. Structural characterizations of the formulated Smart gels were carried out through FTIR, SEM, TGA, DSC, and XRD. The pH-sensitive behavior of Smart gels was found by the study of water imbibition dynamics and equilibrium at low pH of 1.2 and higher pH of 7.4. Results of FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM confirmed the formation of a stable polymeric network. Smart gels with higher contents of PEG 8000 and AA showed maximum water imbibition at pH 7.4. High OXP loading and higher drug release were noticed at pH 7.4. The present study concluded that stable Smart gels of PEG 8000 were successfully fabricated using AA and EGDMA as monomer and cross-linker. The formulated Smart gel system could become an ideal delivery system for colon targeting of OXP in colorectal cancer.