Polyphosphate-Based Hydrogels as Drug-Loaded Wound Dressing: An <i>In Vitro</i> Study
Ramiro Marroquin‐Garcia, Jeroen Royakkers, Mick Gagliardi, Rocio Arreguin-Campos, Thomas J. Cleij, Kasper Eersels, Nynke M. S. van den Akker, Daniël G. M. Molin, Bart van Grinsven, Hanne Diliën
Abstract
Hydrogels are interesting materials for application in biomedicine due to their outstanding properties (e.g., water retention, drug release, and biocompatibility). This work evaluates two series of phosphorus-based hydrogels as potential wound-dressing candidates. The materials were synthesized via free-radical polymerization of bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate (BMEP, ≥75 wt %) with (3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride solution (APTAC) or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS). Due to optimized synthetic conditions, the materials displayed an unprecedented compressive elastic modulus (E′) reaching up to 0.19 MPa, which represents a 1000-fold increase compared to previously reported materials. Furthermore, the hydrogels displayed good hydrolytic and enzymatic stability, cytocompatibility using bovine fibroblasts (BFs), and drug loading/release in woundlike pH conditions. In summary, this work demonstrates the potential of phosphorus-based hydrogels as drug-eluting wound-dressing materials.