Self-assembled guanosine-hydrogels for drug-delivery application: Structural and mechanical characterization, methylene blue loading and controlled release

Autor(es)

Yoneda, Juliana S. ^{[1, 2]} ; de Araujo, Daniele R. ^[3] ; Sella, Fiorenza ^[4] ; Liguori, Gabriel R. ^[5] ; Liguori, Tacia T. A. ^[5] ; Moreira, Luiz Felipe P. ^[5] ; Spinozzi, Francesco ^[4] ; Mariani, Paolo ^[4] ; Itri, Rosangela ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Brazilian Ctr Res Energy & Mat CNPEM, Brazilian Synchrotron Light Lab LNLS, POB 6192, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed ABC, Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Politecn Marche, Dipartimento Sci Vita & Ambiente, Ancona - Italy

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Hosp Clin HCFMUSP, Fac Med, Inst Coracao InCor, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications; v. 121, FEB 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

It is known that guanosine derivatives (G) self-assemble in water forming long, flexible, and interacting aggregates (the so-called G-quadruplexes): by modulating the quadruplex charges, e.g. simply using a mixture of guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) and guanosine (Gua), multi-responsive, self-healing hydrogels can be obtained. In this paper, the potential application of G-hydrogels as drug delivery systems has been assessed. Hydrogels were prepared at different Gua:GMP molar ratios. The photosensitizer Methylene Blue and the proapoptotic protein cytochrome C were used as cargo molecules. Small angle x-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy experiments confirmed the presence of G-quadruplexes disposed in swollen matrices with different mesh-sizes. Rheology measurements showed that the Gua:GMP molar ratio leads to specific drug release mechanisms, as the gel strength is finely tuned by electrostatic repulsion and van der Waals attraction between G-quadruplexes. Noteworthy, the gel cohesion and the drug release were pH responsive. Swelling, self-healing and cell viability features were also investigated: the results qualify the Gua:GMP hydrogel as an excellent biomaterial that can entrap and deliver key biomolecules in a sustained and responsive release manner. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 18/07194-9 - Hidrogel de G-quadruplex como Potencial Carregador de Fotossensibilizadores para Aplicação em Terapia Fotodinâmica
• Beneficiário: Juliana Sakamoto Yoneda
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado