Controlled Release of Protein from Biodegradable Multi-sensitive Injectable Poly(ether-urethane) Hydrogel

The synthesis and characterization of multi-sensitive polymers for use as injectable hydrogels for controlled protein/drug delivery is reported. A series of biodegradable multi-sensitive poly(ether-urethane)s were prepared through a simple one-pot condensation of poly(ethylene glycol), 2,2'-dithiodiethanol, N-methyldiethanolamine, and hexamethylene diisocyanate. The sol-gel phase transition behaviors of the obtained copolymers were investigated. Experimental results showed that the aqueous medium comprising the multi-segment copolymers underwent a sol-to-gel phase transition with increasing temperature and pH. At a certain concentration, the copolymer solution could immediately change to a gel under physiological conditions (37 °C and pH 7.4), indicating their suitability as in situ injectable hydrogels in vivo. Insulin was used as a model protein drug for evaluation of the injectable hydrogels as a site-specific drug delivery system. The controlled release of insulin from the hydrogel devices was demonstrated by degradation of the copolymer, which is modulated via the 2,2'-dithiodiethanol content in the poly(ether-urethane)s. These hydrogels having multi-responsive properties may prove to be promising candidates for injectable and controllable protein drug delivery devices.