Preparation and biodegradation of thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel as a function of pH and temperature

We have developed an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel for local drug delivery to treat cancers clinically. We selected chitosan as a polymer matrix because of its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Glycerol 2-phosphate disodium salt hydrate (β-GP) was used to neutralize the chitosan solution to physiological pH. The chitosan solution displayed a sol-gel phase transition in a pH- and temperature-dependent manner and formed an endothermic hydrogel after subcutaneous injection into mouse in the presence of β-GP. Additionally, we evaluated the biodegradation of chitosan hydrogel in mice by measuring the volume of injected chitosan hydrogel after subcutaneous injection. The injected chitosan hydrogel in mice was sected and stained with hematoxylin-eosin reagent for histological observation to confirm biodegradation of the hydrogel by the infiltrated cells. Chitosan hydrogel systems that possess biocompatibility and biodegradability could be promising thermosensitive injectable materials useful as depot systems for local anti-cancer drug delivery.