D-Glucose based bisacrylamide crosslinker: synthesis and study of homogeneous biocompatible glycopolymeric hydrogels

The ability of sugar pendants in glycopolymers to mimic that on the cell surface can be used as a reliable method for the site specific delivery of drugs. In the search for new possibilities, we herein report a D-glucose based synthesis of hitherto unknown bisacrylamide crosslinker (Glc-bis), a related acrylamide monomer (Glc-acryl), with hemiacetal functionality. A one pot process to transform the synthesized Glc-acrylamides to sterilized homogeneous glycopolymeric gel (Glc-gel) was investigated using radiation induced polymerization technique. The Glc-gel was subjected to swelling studies, viscoelastic, and thermal analysis. The in vitro cytotoxicity test revealed that the constituents (Glc-acryl and Glc-bis) as well as the Glc-gel were non toxic to the cells and the cells grew normally in their presence. The synthesized Glc-gel was found to show good affinity to lectin Con A demonstrating that replacing hydroxyl group in D-glucose moiety with amide bond does not largely affect its interaction with lectins.