Biodegradable super porous inulin cryogels as potential drug carrier

Here, chemically crosslinked super porous inulin cryogels were synthesized by the cryogelation method using divinyl sulfone (DVS) at various mol ratios of 75% to 150% inulin repeating units. Inulin cryogel prepared at 75 mol% DVS crosslinking showed a maximum swelling capacity of 1842 ± 159% in phosphate buffer saline (PBS, pH 7.4). The hydrolytic degradation of inulin cryogels prepared at different ratios were investigated at 37.5 °Cat pH 1, 7.4, and 9. Depending on the degree of crosslinking, it was found that inulin cryogels were completely degraded in 1 to 6 days at pH 1, and the degradation continued at pH 7.4 and 9 for up to 21 days. Inulin cryogel with 75 mol% crosslinker had 61% ± 7% and 45% ± 2% weight losses at pH 7.4 and pH 9, respectively, at end of 21 days. Also, 75% crosslinked inulin cryogel was conjugated with amoxicillin trihydrate (AMX) drug and released 65.15 ± 5.35 mg/g of AMX at pH 1 at end of 24 hours. At pH 7.4 and 9, the AMX released amount were determined as 64.83 ± 6.19 and 55.57 ± 4.00 mg/g, respectively, in 120 hours. Furthermore, inulin cryogels were determined to be blood compatible materials via hemolytic tests with hemolysis ratio of 1.08% ± 0.14% and a blood clotting index of 80.67% ± 1.86%.