Injectable supramolecular hydrogels based on poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]-b-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers and α-cyclodextrin

Abstract

The formation of injectable supramolecular hydrogels formed by poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]-b-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers (PEHE) and α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) was reported. It was shown that the release rate of the hydrogel of PEHE(50-38-50)-α-CD increases more sharply than that of the hydrogel of PEHE(50-55-50)-α-CD, due to the hydrolysis of PEHE(50-38-50). It was concluded that the in vitro release property of the gels is dependent on the structure of copolymer. The observation suggested that the gel system contains the necklace-like nanocrystal and its self-assembling acts as a physical crosslinking, providing the primary driving force for gelation of the solutions of α-CD and the PEHE.