Preparation and characterization of thermo - sensitive hydrogel composite composed of gelatin/pluronic F127 loading nano-curcumin for wound healing

Abstract

In this study, Gelatin-grafting Pluronic F127 (GP) thermosensitive hydrogel was synthesized via urethane linkage formation between amine in Gelatin and p-nitrophenyl chloroformate (p-NPC) in modified Pluronic F127. Nano-curcumin was fabricated by dispersing in this thermo-responsible hydrogel with assistance of ultrasonication. Physicochemical characteristic was examined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), test tube inversion method and rheological measurement. Based on the unique signal at δ = 3.63 (PEO), δ = 1.1 ppm (PPO) in Pluronic and range signal from δ = 1-3 ppm in Gelatin, GP copolymer was successfully prepared. Thermal-transition study showed the phase conversion from 4 oC to 40 oC, exhibited solution at 4 oC and become gel at physiological temperature. TEM image demonstrated nano-curcumin formation with size less than 20 nm in round shape, sustainably released from GP hydrogel for 24 hours. Long chain grafting of Gelatin with Pluronic prolongs the degradation. Cell biocompatible test implied that nCur-GP hydrogel promoted fibroblast proliferation for 48 hours. In conclusion, the combination of Gelatin and Pluronic F127 was created the thermo-responsible hydrogel serving as the dispersant platform to produce and encapsulate nano-curcumin for potential application in wound healing. Keywords: Gelatin-grafting Pluronic F127 (GP), nano-curcumin, thermo-responsible hydrogel, ultrasonication, dispersant platform.