A novel pH/temperature-responsive hydrogel based on tremella polysaccharide and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Tremella polysaccharide, a novel polysaccharide, not only has good ability of film forming, but also has excellent physiological functions, which was suitable to be used to prepare eco-friendly hydrogels. In this study, a novel pH/temperature responsive micelle-laden hydrogel based on tremella polysaccharide (WSK), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and nonionic surfactant-decyl polyglucoside (C10APG) was fabricated through radical polymerization by crosslinking N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), for the purpose to achieve controlled release of hydrophobic drugs indomethacin (IND). Firstly, WSK/CMC/PNIPAM hydrogels were prepared and their characteristics were investigated by FTIR, TGA, SEM, rheological and compressive tests as well as swelling experiments. Then the hydrophobic drug IND molecules were solubilized in C10APG micelles which were uniformly dispersed in the WSK/CMC/PNIPAM/C10APG networks. Lastly, the IND release behavior of WSK/CMC/PNIPAM/C10APG hydrogels was studied, which exhibited both pH and temperature sensitivity. The obtained WSK/C10APG-based pH/temperature sensitive hydrogel may have potential in biomedical applications such as drug vehicles and tissue engineering.