Polypseudorotaxane-based supramolecular hydrogels consisting of cyclodextrins and Pluronics as stabilizing agents for antibody drugs

Recently, antibody drugs have been used worldwide, and based on worldwide sales, 7 of the top 10 pharmaceutical products in 2019 were antibody-based drugs. However, antibody drugs often form aggregates upon thermal and shaking stresses with few efficient stabilizing agents against both stresses. Herein, we developed polypseudorotaxane (PpRX) hydrogels consisting of cyclodextrins (CyDs) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polypropylene glycol (PPG)-PEG block copolymers (Pluronics F108, F87, F68, and L44), and evaluated their utility as antibody stabilizing agents. alpha and gamma-CyDs formed PpRX hydrogels with Pluronics, where CyD/F108 gels showed remarkable stabilizing effects for human immunoglobulin G (IgG) against both thermal and shaking stresses beyond CyD/PEG gels or generic gels. The effects were probably due to the interaction between IgG and the free PPG block of Pluronic F108, resulting in the strong IgG retention in the gels. These findings suggest the great potential of CyD/Pluronic gels as pharmaceutical materials for antibody formulations.

Automated summary

Novel CyD/Pluronic gels have been developed as effective antibody stabilizing agents, showing remarkable stabilizing effects for human immunoglobulin G against both thermal and shaking stresses. The interaction between IgG and the free PPG block of Pluronic F108 in the gels is believed to be responsible for the strong IgG retention. These findings suggest the great potential of CyD/Pluronic gels as pharmaceutical materials for antibody formulations.