Redox-responsive blend hydrogel films based on carboxymethyl cellulose/chitosan microspheres as dual delivery carrier

A simple method to fabricate redox-responsive composite hydrogel films via incorporating chitosan (CS) microspheres into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) hydrogel using a di-sulphide cross-linker cystamine dihydrochloride (CYS) have done in this paper. Dual drugs, an anticancer, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and an antibiotic, Tetracycline Hydrochloride (TH) were used as model drugs. The prepared composite hydrogel films were characterized using FTIR, SEM, rheology measurement, mechanical and swelling tests. Our results showed that the well dispersed spherical CS microspheres endowed hydrogel film increased mechanical properties and swellability. In vitro drug release displayed an accelerated release under weak acidic or reducing media. The in vitro cytotoxicity and cell apoptosis studies showed the drug-loaded composite film caused enhanced inhibition to HepG2 cells in presence of glutathione (GSH). Moreover, the film has exhibited excellent antimicrobial efficacy against E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus . Therefore, our simple and effective dual drug-loaded system has the potential to be used for cancer therapy in the future.