Nanocarrier based thermo-responsive hydrogels for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs

This thesis aims to explore nanocarrier based thermo-responsive PF127-based hydrogels for the delivery of anticancer drugs. A series of PF127-based hydrogel blends were prepared, and their sol-gel transition properties were evaluated for the employment of injectable drug delivery systems with in situ gelation mechanisms that allow for targeted and controlled drug release. Lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) were synthesised by nanoprecipitation and analysed using nanoparticle tracking analysis. Attempts were made at combining nanoparticles and hydrogels to create a hybrid system carrying gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM). Based on the findings of this research, PF127-based hydrogels blended with carboxymethyl chitosan show enhanced structural stability in vitro and thermo responsive sol-gel transition properties compatible with the physiological environment. Envelopment of drugs in nanocarrier based hydrogels lead to decrease in gel stability. Drug loading in LPHNPs also resulted in inappropriately large particles while controlling LPHNP size, polydispersity, and particle aggregation proved a challenge. Further research is necessary to effectively combine LPHNPs and PF127-based hydrogels and drug loading in nanocarrier-hydrogel hybrid systems should be optimized.

Publisher

University of Galway

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

cbn

Collections

University of Galway Theses (Research Masters Theses)