Ultrasound-assisted DMSO method for rapid starch gel preparation: process and biomedical applications

Starch gels with precisely controlled viscosity show considerable potential as topical carriers for personalized therapeutic applications. However, conventional gelation processes are often inefficient and difficult to regulate, thereby limiting the effective utilization of the favorable properties of starch gels. To address these limitations, an ultrasound-assisted dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent method was developed to enable one-step gelation of starch derived from medicinal plant sources. This innovative approach produces gels with a wide viscosity range and can stably encapsulate diverse components, including methotrexate, molybdenum disulfide, and composite molybdenum disulfide. In this study, the properties of the starch gel were comprehensively analyzed, and its gelation mechanism was elucidated using grey prediction modeling and molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate that the combination of DMSO and water enables rapid starch gel formation, with the process exhibiting a positive correlation with the degree of starch substitution. Furthermore, the gel demonstrated high loading capacity and excellent biocompatibility, making it suitable for applications such as psoriasis treatment and modification of hemodialysis membranes. This method not only expands the techniques available for starch gel preparation but also enhances clinical applications and the development of advanced drug delivery systems.