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. 2023 Jul 6;14(7):1382.
doi: 10.3390/mi14071382.

Synthesis and Characterization of Ciprofloxacin Loaded Star-Shaped Polycaprolactone-Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogels for Oral Delivery

Wan Khartini Wan Abdul Khodir  1   2 , Mohamad Wafiuddin Ismail  1 , Shafida Abd Hamid  1   2 , Rusli Daik  3 , Deny Susanti  1 , Muhammad Taher  4 , Vincenzo Guarino  5
Affiliations

Synthesis and Characterization of Ciprofloxacin Loaded Star-Shaped Polycaprolactone-Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogels for Oral Delivery

Wan Khartini Wan Abdul Khodir et al. Micromachines (Basel). .

Abstract

The administration of poorly water-soluble drugs represents a relevant problem due to the low body fluids transport efficiency through hydrophilic hydrogels. Star-shaped co-polymers, i.e., amphiphilic polymers such as those with a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic outer shell, can be used to improve weak interactions with drugs, with relevant benefits in terms of administration and controlled delivery. In this work, two different co-polymers, four-arm star-shaped PCL-PEG and six-arm star-shaped PCL-PEG, were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization to be loaded with ciprofloxacin. 1H-NMR and FTIR analyses confirmed that PCL arms were successfully grafted to the mPEG backbone, while DSC analysis indicated similar crystallinity and melting point, ranging from 56 to 60 °C, independent of the different co-polymer architecture. Therefore, both star-shaped PCL-PEGs were investigated as cargo device for ciprofloxacin. No significant differences were observed in terms of drug entrapment efficiency (>95%) and drug release, characterized by a pronounced burst followed by a slow sustained release, only slightly affected by the co-polymer architecture. This result was also confirmed with curve fitting via the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Lastly, good antibacterial properties and biocompatibility exhibited in both star-shaped PCL-PEG co-polymers suggest a promising use for oral delivery applications.

Keywords: PCL arms; ciprofloxacin; drug delivery; hydrogels; star co-polymers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Initiator for four-arm star-shaped polymer (pentaerythritol) and six-arm star-shaped polymer (di-pentaerythritol).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Synthesis of star polymers of PCL-PEG.
Figure 3
Figure 3
FTIR spectra of 4Star PCL and 4Star PCL-PEG.
Figure 4
Figure 4
FTIR spectra of 6Star PCL and 6Star PCL-PEG.
Figure 5
Figure 5
TGA and DTG thermograms: (a) 4Star PCL and 6Star PCL; (b) 4Star PCL-PEG and 6Star PCL-PEG.
Figure 6
Figure 6
DSC thermograms of (a) star PCL and (b) star PCL-PEG.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Cumulative drug release vs. time for 4SF and 6SF formulations.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Cytotoxicity tests of HGF-1 cells on media with different formulations, after 24 h exposure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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