Physically crosslinked chitosan/αβ-glycerophosphate hydrogels enhanced by surface-modified cyclodextrin: An efficient strategy for controlled drug release.

This study reports physically crosslinked chitosan/αβ-glycerophosphate (CS/GP) hydrogels containing surface-modified cyclodextrin for efficient controlled drug release. Highly water-soluble β-cyclodextrin-grafted L-serine (CD-g-Ser) compounds were synthesized, and employed as an effective carrier of berberine hydrochloride (Ber) for CS/GP hydrogels. Various characterizations, including gelation time determination, scanning electron microscopy, and viscosity measurement, indicated that the introduction of CD-g-Ser led to increased crosslinking degree, improved temperature sensitivity, and shortened sol-gel phase transition time of the hydrogel.