Evaluation of TEOS Plasma Polymerized Carboxymethyl Starch/Alginate Hydrogels as Controlled Drug Delivery Systems

AbstractTo design a controlled delivery device for the potent glucocorticoid dexamethasone; smart hydrogels composed of carboxymethyl starch, and sodium alginate are fabricated and exposed to tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) cold plasma treatment using oxygen as an oxidant gas. Surface hydrophobization ensuing from plasma treatment is evidenced from FTIR and water contact angle analyses. It is also observed that the water uptake capacity of TEOS‐plasma modified hydrogel is much lower than the pristine hydrogel. The release studies of dexamethasone illustrated a slower release from TEOS‐plasma treated hydrogel in simulated intestinal fluid that conformed to the oral delivery of the drug to the colon. The preliminary kinetics of drug release demonstrated that TEOS‐plasma influenced the polymer chain relaxation thereby leading to a slower rate of drug release. The cytocompatibility studies on MCF‐7 cells clearly depicted that plasma treatment of the hydrogels does not evoke any detrimental effects on the cellular viability. Lastly, the in vitro degradation studies of the hydrogels in lysozyme solution demonstrated their good degradation behavior. Overall, the findings of this study implied that the TEOS‐plasma modified hydrogel could be explored as potential biomaterial for the oral controlled delivery of dexamethasone.