Thermal-responsive magnetic hydrogels based on Tragacanth gum for delivery of anticancer drugs

Thermal-responsive magnetic hydrogels (Hydrogel 1 and Hydrogel 2 ) were synthesized through the copolymerization of maleic anhydride-functionalized Tragacanth gum macromonomer (MATGM), N -isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomer, and 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethacrylate-modifed magnetic nanoparticles (MPS-MNPs) in the presence of N , N´ -methylene-bis(acrylamide) (MBAm) and N , N , N´ , N´ -tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) as crosslinker and accelerator, respectively, using a free radical polymerization approach. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were revealed that the fabricated hydrogels had porous microstructure without microphase separation. The synthesized magnetic hydrogels were loaded with methotrexate (MTX) as an anticancer drug, and their drug loading and encapsulation efficiencies as well as thermal-triggered drug release behaviors were investigated. The biocompatibilities of the fabricated hydrogels were confirmed using MMT assay. The MTX loaded hydrogels were exhibited better anticancer performance than those of the free MTX. Since the biological as well as physicochemical results, the fabricated magnetic hydrogels have high potential for cancer chemotherapy.