Preparation and Evaluation of pH-Sensitive Chitosan/Alginate Nanohybrid Mucoadhesive Hydrogel Beads: An Effective Approach to a Gastro-Retentive Drug Delivery System

Abstract

Background: Despite extensive research over the decades, cancer therapy is still a great challenge because of the non-specific delivery of chemotherapeutic agents, which could be overcome by limiting the distribution of chemotherapeutic agents toward cancer cells. Objective: To reduce the cytolytic effects against cancer cells, graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles (NPs) can load anticancer medicines and genetic tools. Methodology: During the current study, folic-acid-conjugated graphene oxide (Fa-GO) hybrid mucoadhesive chitosan (CS)-based hydrogel beads were fabricated through an “ion-gelation process”, which allows for regulated medication release at malignant pH. Results: The fabricated chitosan–alginate (SA-CS) hydrogel beads were examined using surface morphology, optical microscopy, XRD, FTIR, and homogeneity analysis techniques. The size analysis indicated that the size of the Fa-GO was up to 554.2 ± 95.14 nm, whereas the beads were of a micrometer size. The folic acid conjugation was confirmed by NMR. The results showed that the craggy edges of the graphene oxide were successfully encapsulated in a polymeric matrix. The mucoadhesive properties were enhanced with the increase in the CS concentration. The nanohybrid SA-CS beads exhibited good swelling properties, and the drug release was 68.29% at pH 5.6 during a 24 h investigation. The accelerated stability study, according to ICH guidelines, indicated that the hydrogel beads have a shelf-life of more than two years. Conclusions: Based on the achieved results, it can be concluded that this novel gastro-retentive delivery system may be a viable and different way to improve the stomach retention of anticancer agents and enhance their therapeutic effectiveness.

Keywords

• graphene oxide (GO)
• hydrogel beads
• chitosan (CS)
• folic acid (Fa)
• mucoadhesive