对近红外(NIR)光敏感的天然聚合物凝胶吸引了研究智能药物输送系统的科学家的注意。与紫外线或可见光相比,NIR光具有强触发水平的优点,深度穿透受影响的组织,副作用少。在这里,我们提出了一种用于NIR控制药物递送的局部光热水凝胶。提出的DexIEM-GM-Laponite水凝胶是通过乙烯基官能化葡聚糖(DexIEM)的自由基聚合制备的,乙烯基改性氧化石墨烯(GM),和Laponite;此后,水凝胶加载环丙沙星(CIP,抗菌药物)作为模型药物。随着Laponite含量的增加,水凝胶中的交联密度增加,力学性能明显改善。在近红外辐射下,DexIEM-GM-Laponite水凝胶表现出光热特性,表面温度从26.8°C增加到55.5°C。体外皮下给药实验的模拟表明,在指定的猪肉组织厚度(2、4和6mm)下,CIP释放仍然是NIR可控的。此外,抗菌性能测试结果表明,水凝胶具有优异的抗菌效果,水凝胶的血液溶血率小于5%,良好的血液相容性。这项工作将为NIR光响应材料在抗菌治疗中的应用提供一条途径。
Natural polymer gels with sensitivity to near-infrared (NIR) light have attracted the attention of scientists working on intelligent drug delivery systems. Compared to ultraviolet or visible light, NIR light has the advantages of strong trigger levels, deep penetration through affected tissues, and fewer side effects. Herein, we present a topical photothermal hydrogel for NIR-controlled drug delivery. The proposed DexIEM-GM-Laponite hydrogel was prepared through free radical polymerization of vinyl-functionalized dextran (DexIEM), vinyl-modified graphene oxide (GM), and Laponite; thereafter, the hydrogel was loaded with ciprofloxacin (CIP, an antibacterial drug) as a model drug. With the Laponite content increased, the density of crosslinking in the hydrogel increased, and its mechanical properties improved noticeably. Under NIR irradiation, the DexIEM-GM-Laponite hydrogel exhibited a photothermal property, where the surface temperature increased from 26.8 to 55.5 °C. The simulation of subcutaneous drug delivery experiments ex vivo showed that under the specified pork tissue thickness (2, 4, and 6 mm), the CIP release remained NIR-controllable. Additionally, the results of the antibacterial performance tests indicated the excellent antibacterial effect of the hydrogel, and the blood hemolysis ratio of the hydrogel was less than 5%, signifying good blood compatibility. This work will provide an avenue for the application of NIR light-responsive materials in antimicrobial therapy.