The incorporated hydrogel of chitosan-oligoconjugated linoleic acid vesicles and the protective sustained release for curcumin in the gel

Assemblies of as called chitosan hydrogel-liposome are expected for overcoming the burst effect in drug release from chitosan (CS) hydrogels. Herein, a hydrogel delivery system made of chitosan incorporated fatty acid vesicles was constructed for protective sustained release of curcumin (Cur). The curcumin was encapsulated in the prepared oligo-conjugated linoleic acid vesicles (OCLAVs), and then the drug-embedded vesicles were constructed to Cur-OCLAVs-CS hydrogels with CS solution. The fabricated Cur-OCLAVs-CS hydrogel was fluidic at room temperature and could be rapidly gelled at 37 degrees C. Morphology study proves that the OCLAVs stayed as nano-vesicles in the gel. The Cur-OCLAVs-CS hydrogels effectively declined the burst effect with enhanced antioxidant activity. The Cur (400 mu M)-OCLAVs-CS gel presented a cumulative release rate of 51.23 % of cur -cumin in 96 h, comparing to 93.37 % of that from the Cur-CS gel. Moreover, the corporation of OCLAVs and CS made the gel exhibited strong synergistic effect on the antioxidant activity, with an enhancement of up to 148.1 % on the ferric reducing power. Therefore, the hydrogel carrier made of incorporated fatty acid vesicles-chitosan can be served as an injectable or 3D printable drug delivery system, which may provide a hint to overcome the burst effect that existed in chitosan and other polysaccharide-based gels.

Automated summary

A hydrogel delivery system made of chitosan incorporated fatty acid vesicles was developed for protective sustained release of curcumin. The hydrogel was fluidic at room temperature and could gel rapidly at 37 degrees C. The vesicles remained as nano-vesicles in the gel, effectively reducing the burst effect and enhancing the antioxidant activity.