Cysteine conjugated chitosan based green nanohybrid hydrogel embedded with zinc oxide nanoparticles towards enhanced therapeutic potential of naringenin

This article reports the role of L-Cysteine (CYS) conjugated nanohybrid hydrogel carrier for the enhanced therapeutic delivery of the Naringenin (NRG). CYS was effectively conjugated with chitosan through the amidation reaction followed by the incorporation of phyto-synthesised zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs). Dialdehyde cellulose (DAC), a green crosslinker derived from Sugarcane Bagasse (SCB) crosslinked the modified chitosan. Taguchi method optimised the NRG loading in the hydrogel carrier. The hybrid material was characterized using H-1 and C-13 NMR, FTIR, XRD, SEM and swelling studies. The hybrid hydrogel, loaded with 86.09% of NRG was further subjected to drug release studies at varying pH and NRG loading concentrations. Maximum release of 72.78% was obtained for 1 mg/mL of initial drug concentration at pH 5. CYS conjugation with chitosan stabilized the hydrogel and enabled a sustained release of NRG drug. Kinetic modelling predicted the NRG release to follow a non-Fickian diffusion along with polymer erosion. The antimicrobial activity was studied against the Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum strains. Biocompatibility assay of the materials with L929 cells revealed significant cell viability. The NRG delivery using the developed nanohybrid hydrogel exhibited a twofold increase in cytotoxicity towards A431 human skin carcinoma cells compared to NRG delivery without carrier.