1 Citation
Research data for publication funded by the GREEN-MAP project. A pH-sensitive supramolecular hydrogel based on host-guest interactions between α-cyclodextrin and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains derived from pH-sensitive micelles was designed for sustained co-delivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. The pH-sensitive biodegradable amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)-b-polycarbonate was synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of six-membered cyclic carbonate functionalized with a ketal moiety. The amphiphilic copolymer self-organizes into nanoscale micelles able to encapsulate doxorubicin. The host-guest interactions were characterized using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. In vitro release studies revealed that the supramolecular hydrogel exhibited faster drug release profiles in acidic conditions. The MTT assay demonstrated a synergistic cancer cell proliferation inhibition. In vitro cytotoxicity studies indicated excellent biocompatibility of the supramolecular hydrogel matrix.