Injectable doxorubicin-loaded hydrogels based on dendron-like β-cyclodextrin–poly(ethylene glycol) conjugates

Dendron-like multifunctional β-cyclodextrin–poly(ethylene glycol) (CD–PEG) conjugates were synthesized from amino functionalized β-cyclodextrins and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate through the Michael addition reaction. The resultant conjugates contain several PEG arms terminated with acrylates, which originated from the same glucopyranose unit of CD. These dendron-like CD–PEG conjugates can incorporate adamantane-modified doxorubicin (AD–DOX) by host–guest interactions between CD and AD moieties, to give a reactive supramolecular polymeric prodrug, which can be further crosslinked by poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) mercaptosuccinate] (POEGMS) via thiol–ene “click” reaction under physiological conditions. These kinds of in situ forming drug-loaded hydrogels can be utilized as injectable gelling carriers for localized drug delivery.