Preparation and characterization of pH-sensitive hydrogel based on pectin for ocular drug delivery

The eye is one of the vital organs of the body enabling observation and the reception of information from the surrounding environment. This organ can be affected by various factors, leading to diseases. Macular degeneration is a common disease among the elderly. This disease causes the destruction of the macula and results in vision loss. Due to the unique anatomy and physiology of the eye, drug delivery to the eye presents many challenges. Most ophthalmic drugs available on the market are in the form of eye drops with an efficacy of less than ۵%. The use of novel drug delivery systems reduces the required drug dose and minimizes the drug's side effects in the body. Hydrogels are an example of drug delivery systems that have consistently garnered researchers' attention due to their unique properties, including sensitivity to various environmental conditions and high swelling capacity. Pectin is an example of a natural polymer used in ocular drug delivery systems because of its biocompatibility, biodegradability, low cost, and availability. In this study, a pH-sensitive and self-healing smart hydrogel based on pectin was synthesized using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a crosslinker for ocular drug delivery. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis was used to identify and characterize the prepared material. The loading capacity of the synthesized hydrogel for timolol, a drug used to treat macular degeneration, was investigated. Then, drug release from the designed system was examined in distilled water and sterile artificial tear drops (simulating natural tears). The synthesized hydrogel was pH-sensitive and demonstrated controlled drug release. The results obtained from FT-IR demonstrate the successful synthesis of pectin-based hydrogel, which can be utilized as an in situ-forming hydrogel for timolol delivery.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ocular drug delivery ، Hydrogel ، Pectin ، Timolol