Zwitterionic functionalization of polysaccharide gum by graft copolymerization to develop 3-D network materials for anticancer drug delivery applications

Herein, functionalization of polysaccharide gum has been carried out to develop network copolymeric materials for use in sustained anticancer drug delivery. Grafting reaction of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (MEDSAH) onto sterculia gum has been done in the presence of crosslinker. Copolymeric materials were characterized by scanning electron micrographs (SEMs), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). SEM, AFM and XRD displayed heterogeneous morphology with a rough surfaces of amorphous copolymeric materials. Peaks at 173.822 ppm (carbonyl carbon) and at 60.653 ppm (methylene carbon attached to a quaternary ammonium group) confirmed the addition of poly(MEDSAH) during the grafting reaction. Mesh size in network hydrogel was found between 14.54 nm to 36.32 nm. Sustained release of doxorubicin was found with non-Fickian diffusion and was best demonstrated by the kinetic model Hixson Crowell. The biocompatibility of material was revealed in a haemolytic index (1.74 ± 0.26%) less than two percent during the copolymer-blood interaction. The material exhibited antioxidant and mucoadhesion properties. Free radical scavenging ability of copolymers was 49.41 ± 0.97% in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay of the antioxidant test. These properties of copolymeric hydrogels demonstrated their suitability for use in sustained drug delivery systems for cancer chemotherapy.