Construction of magnetically responsive xanthan gum hydrogels for tunable drug delivery

Abstract

A novel magnetically controlled hydrogel drug delivery system was constructed by physically cross-linking hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and xanthan gum (XG), followed by incorporating varying concentrations of magnetic nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the hydrogel possesses a porous network structure. Drug release from this system can be controlled by on/off switching of an external magnetic field. Experimental results demonstrated that applied magnetic fields slowed the drug release rate. The sample with 15 % magnetic particles demonstrates a 30 % reduction in drug release under an applied magnetic field compared to non-field conditions. Enabling precise regulation of drug concentration during treatment. Interestingly, incorporating magnetic nanoparticles increased the cumulative drug release. The sample containing 15 % magnetic particles releases 116 % more drug under identical conditions. This suggests potential for enhanced drug bioavailability. The hydrogel system exhibits antibacterial efficacy upon incorporation of LVFX drug, while demonstrating a drug release pattern identical to that observed with MTX and magnetic particles under magnetic field application. Thus, adding magnetic particles to drug-loaded hydrogels not only improves bioavailability but also allows magnetic field control of drug concentration, enhancing therapeutic outcomes.