Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry-C.N.R., Via P. Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy.
STMicroelectronics, Stradale Primosole 50, 95121 Catania, Italy.
Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2020 Jun;111:110842. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.110842. Epub 2020 Mar 12.
In the search for soft and smart materials for nanomedicine, which is a present challenge, supramolecular nanohydrogels built on self-assembling low-molecular-weight building blocks attract interest for their structural, mechanical and functional properties. Herein, we describe a supramolecular nanohydrogel formed by a biofriendly micellar self-assembling choline-calix[4]arene derivative in the presence of curcumin, a natural and multitarget pharmacologically relevant drug. Morphology and mechanical properties of the nanohydrogel were investigated, and theoretical simulation performed to model the nanohydrogel structure. The self-healing and injectable nanohydrogel easily formed in PBS medium at physiologic pH, without using additives and organic solvents. The micellar nanohydrogel protected curcumin from rapid chemical and photochemical degradation, and slowly dissolved in curcumin-loaded micelles sustaining the drug release in a low rate. The nanohydrogel which combines the mechanical properties of a hydrogel and the benefits of a nanoscale micelle in drug delivery, appears a promising novel material for drug delivery.
在寻找用于纳米医学的柔软和智能材料这一当前挑战中，基于自组装低分子量构建块的超分子纳米水凝胶因其结构、机械和功能特性而引起关注。本文描述了一种超分子纳米水凝胶，它由生物友好的胶束自组装胆碱杯[4]芳烃衍生物在姜黄素（一种天然的、多靶点的、具有药理学相关性的药物）存在下形成。研究了纳米水凝胶的形态和力学性能，并进行了理论模拟以模拟纳米水凝胶结构。纳米水凝胶在生理 pH 值的 PBS 介质中很容易形成，无需使用添加剂和有机溶剂。胶束纳米水凝胶保护姜黄素免受快速的化学和光化学降解，并在载有姜黄素的胶束中缓慢溶解，以低速率维持药物释放。这种纳米水凝胶结合了水凝胶的机械性能和纳米级胶束在药物传递中的优势，有望成为一种新型的药物传递材料。
