Synthesis, analysis, and characterization of electrically sensitive PVA hydrogels loaded with MTX cancer drugs

Abstract

Methotrexate (MTX)-loaded electric field-sensitive sulfoacetic acid modifying polyvinyl alchohol (PVA) hydrogels were prepared and characterized by means of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectrometry. To see whether the hydrogels were electro-sensitive, bending tests were conducted. It was seen that the samples that were cut into strips started bending toward the cathode, and this bending was reversible when the polarity changed. Drug release tests were conducted using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer, and a drug release study was performed on the MTX-loaded hydrogel strips placed in a sodium chloride (NaCl) solution under three different voltages (V)-5V, 10V, and 20V-and the solutions collected every five minutes. Also, a drug-release test without applying any voltage was carried out. Solutions collected from the tank every five minutes were investigated using UV-Vis spectrometry, and absorption peaks were obtained. Results showed that the strips exhibited higher drug release properties when the voltage was increased. The maximum drug release was at 20V and minimum at 0V. A cytotoxicity (in vitro) test was done to observe the release behavior of the hydrogels and also to witness the efficiency of the treatment on cancer. Keywords: Electro-responsive hydrogels, targeted drug delivery, breast cancer