Biodegradable and pH-Sensitive Hydrogels for Potential Colon-Specific Drug Delivery: Characterization and In Vitro Release Studies

A novel pH-sensitive and biodegradable composite hydrogel, based on a methacrylated and succinic derivative of dextran, named Dex-MA-SA, and a methacrylated and succinic derivative of α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-dl-aspartamide (PHEA), named PHM-SA, was produced by photocross-linking. The goal was to obtain a colon-specific drug delivery system, exploiting both the pH-sensitive behavior and the colon-specific degradability. The hydrogel prepared with a suitable ratio between the polysaccharide and the polyaminoacid was characterized regarding its swelling behavior in gastrointestinal simulated conditions, chemical and enzymatic degradability, interaction with mucin, and cell compatibility on CaCo-2 cells. Moreover, 2-methoxyestradiol was chosen as a model of anticancer drug and release studies, were performed in the absence or in the presence of dextranase and esterase. The obtained hydrogel, due to its pH-sensitive swelling and enzymatic degradability, together with mucoadhesion and cell compatibility, could be potentially useful as system for the oral treatment of colonic cancer.