Loading Proteins into Hydrogels

Penetration into the network requires that the dimensions of the pores exceed the protein dimensions otherwise, the predominate process is adsorption. The adsorption of proteins onto hydrogels is an important area of research not discussed here (Dillman and Miller, 1973 Braatz et al, 1992 Smith and Sefton, 1992 Strzinar and Seflon, 1992). 

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Shalaby, W. S. W., Abdallah, A. A., Park, H., and Park, K., 1993, Loading of bovine serum albumin into hydrogels by an electrophoretic process and its potential application to protein drugs, Pharm. Res. 10(3) 457-460. 

Fr chet et synthesized a new acetal cross-linker with p-methoxy substituent, which can be used to prepare acid-sensitive, acetal cross-linked, protein-loaded hydrogels and miaogels. The FITC-modified BSA was loaded into miao-gels during polymerization of AAm with bisacrylamide acetal aoss-linker. At acidic pHs, the pore size of the acetal aoss-linked hydrogels increases, due to the hydrolysis of the acetal, and entrapped protein diffuse out, whereas at neutral pHs the aoss-linker remains largely intaa and the release of entrapped protein is significantly slower. 

Jensen M, Hansen PB, Murdan S, Frokjaer S, Florence AT. Loading into and electro-stimulated release of peptides and proteins from chondroitin 4-sulfate hydrogels. Eur J Pharm... 

Jensen, M., Birch Hansen, P, Murdan, S., Frokjaer, S. and Florence, A. T. (2002). Loading into and electro-stimulated release of f>eptides and proteins fromchon-droitin 4-sulphate hydrogels. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 15, 139-148. 

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