Engineering Robust, Porous Guar Gum Hydrogels by One-Step Mild Synthesis: Impact of Porogen Choice on Rheology and Sustained Gastroretentive Amoxicillin Delivery
This study introduces a single-step method to synthesize guar gum-based interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels, achieving simultaneous Diels–Alder crosslinking and amoxicillin (AMOX) encapsulation under mild conditions. To evaluate the influence of porogen addition on IPN structure, drug l...
| Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | article |
| Status: | Published version |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Universidad de Sevilla (US) |
| Repository: | idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:idus.us.es:11441/179764 |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/11441/179764 https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11100785 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | Guar gum hydrogel Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) Diels–Alder crosslinking One-pot synthesis porosity modulation PEG porogen Sucrose porogen Gastroretentive drug delivery systems GRDDS |
| Summary: | This study introduces a single-step method to synthesize guar gum-based interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels, achieving simultaneous Diels–Alder crosslinking and amoxicillin (AMOX) encapsulation under mild conditions. To evaluate the influence of porogen addition on IPN structure, drug loading and release, twenty-one formulations were developed, including AMOX loading (25% or 40% w/w relative to the polymer) and biocompatible porogens incorporation [polyethylene glycol (PEG) or sucrose at 5%, 10%, or 50% w/w]. All crosslinked IPN hydrogels formed robust gels, unlike non-crosslinked controls. Porogen choice strongly influenced hydrogel performance: PEG quadrupled the swelling index while enhancing storage modulus (up to 10,054 Pa) and complex viscosity (up to 1302 Pa·s), whereas high sucrose concentrations produced soft, ductile networks with critical strains above 20% and swelling indices up to 1895%. All hydrogels released AMOX at levels above MIC50 for H. pylori. PEG-based IPN provided superior drug delivery profiles, with extended AMOX release (t50 up to 15.5 h at pH 5.0), while sucrose-rich matrices exhibited faster burst release and disintegration. Single-step (pre-loading) AMOX during synthesis improved release control compared to post-loading. These findings highlight the potential of one-pot IPN synthesis with porogen modulation offering a promising gastroretentive platforms for sustained AMOX delivery against H. pylori. |
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