Sponge-like macroporous cyclodextrin-based cryogels for controlled drug delivery

Abstract

New drug delivery systems for wound healing applications based on α/β/γ-cyclodextrin (α/β/γ-CD) acrylic (A) and styrenic (S) monomers have been synthesized and co-polymerized with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) via a cryo-polymerization technique. The 3D macroporous cryogels containing hydrophobic cavities were loaded with lomefloxacin (LOM), piroxicam (PIR), and fluconazole (FLU) with a drug loading efficiency (DLE) of up to 78%. Depending on the formulated systems, the release of drugs under different stimuli was achieved, with efficiencies ranging from 23 to 95%. It was demonstrated that the presence of CDs within cryogels determines benefits both in loading capacity and drug delivery. CD derivatives were simultaneously loaded with LOM and PIR and tested for multi-drug release. This non-conventional approach was successfully designed as a proof of concept responding to the need to preserve a sterile target area, facilitating skin repair in wound healing applications. For this purpose, the biocompatibility of CD formulations was ascertained against human fibroblasts.