Fabrication of\nLow-Temperature Fast Gelation β‑Cyclodextrin-Based\nHydrogel-Loaded Medicine for Wound Dressings

Abstract

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) is often used as a\ndrug carrier\nfor biomedical materials due to its unique cavity structure. Herein,\nβ-CD was modified by acryloyl chloride and further copolymerized\nwith <i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylic acid\n(AA) to obtain PNIPAM<i>-co-</i>β-CD-AC. The results\nshowed that the critical phase transition temperature of PNIPAM/β-CD-AC\ncould be controlled at 19 °C, and the fast sol–gel phase\ntransition was realized in 2–10 s. The hydrophobic drug carried\nin this hydrogel can constantly be released for more than 6 days at\npH values (pH 5.5–8), and the duration may match the recovery\nof the wound. As a dressing hydrogel, its rapid gel formation and\ninversion as well as shear-thinning behavior prevent secondary wound\ndamage. The β-CD-based hydrogel also has good biocompatibility\nand antioxidant properties, which provide a good potential choice\nfor wound dressings, especially for exposed wounds in winter.