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 (C 10 APG) 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 C 10 APG micelles which were uniformly dispersed in the WSK/CMC/PNIPAM/C 10 APG networks. Lastly, the IND release behavior of WSK/CMC/PNIPAM/C 10 APG hydrogels was studied, which exhibited both pH and temperature sensitivity. The obtained WSK/C 10 APG-based pH/temperature sensitive hydrogel may have potential in biomedical applications such as drug vehicles and tissue engineering.