Liposomal Nanocarriers-Loaded Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) Hydrogels: Physico-mechanical Properties and Drug Release

The main objective of this research is to investigate how curcumin liposomal nanocarriers influence the drug release behaviour of PVA/PEG hydrogels in relation to physico-mechanical properties. For this purpose, optimal nanoliposomes from drug loading and release viewpoints, prepared by the thin-film hydration method, were incorporated into the hydrogel composition. Hydrogel samples were physically crosslinked using the freeze-thaw procedure. According to the dynamic laser scattering, atomic force microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy observations, negative nanoliposomes with negative surface charges showed a spherical morphology with an average particle size of about 100 nm and narrow size distribution. The X-ray diffraction results revealed that adding nanoliposomes to the hydrogel increases the degree of PVA chains crystallinity, enhances tensile modulus and tensile strength of the hydrogel, while decreasing swelling and dehydration rates. SEM micrographs observation displayed that the porosity in the hydrogel structure in the presence of nanoliposomes increases. Nevertheless, in agreement with physical properties, drug release from nanoliposome-in-hydrogel is slower and more controlled as compared to that from free curcumin hydrogel, especially in the early stages. The MTT assay results indicated that although all hydrogel samples are non-toxic, human foreskin fibroblast cell proliferation on hydrogel in the presence of curcumin-loaded nanoliposomes has improved somewhat.