RUTHENIUM(II) COMPLEXES WITH CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY EMBEDDED IN HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE/SODIUM ALGINATE MUCOADHESIVE HYDROGELS

Abstract

Mucoadhesive hydrogels based on hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose/sodium alginate have been prepared and used as matrix for encapsulation and delivery of new ruthenium(II) complexes with selective cytotoxic activity on human melanoma (MEWO) cells.The structure of the hydrogels was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy and SEM microscopy.The encapsulation and the delivery of ruthenium(II) complexes from polymeric matrices were monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy.Thermal and moisture stabilities of the composite gels were evidenced by FT-IR and Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) analyses.The mucoadhesion properties of the hydrogels have been investigated on bladder mucosa, the most mucoadhesive gel being selected as a promising precursor composite for anticancer drug delivery systems.