https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2024.024
Published: Kem. Ind. 73 (13) (2024) 525–535
Paper reference number: KUI-24/2024
Paper type: Original scientific paper
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Chitosan/Bioactive Glass Scaffolds as Potential Drug Carriers

L. Dornjak and A. Rogina

Abstract

Modern chemotherapeutic agents offer versatile and potent applications for treatment of various forms of sarcomas. One such agent, doxorubicin, offers potent chemotherapeutic effects through its property of intercalation with DNA, resulting in rapid DNA degradation and cancer cell apoptosis. Despite its advanced properties, its application causes system-wide damage leading to cardiotoxicity and even lowering of cognitive scores, inhibition of self-regeneration, and nephropathy. To circumvent these adverse side-effects, localised drug delivery via a polymeric composite material may offer a solution. Chitosan, a biodegradable polymer, is a biocompatible polysaccharide capable of acting as an effective polymeric matrix for targeted drug delivery. In combination with bioactive glass, a composite polymeric scaffold could enhance the incorporation and release kinetics of doxorubicin from the polymer-based carrier while also promoting the formation of regenerative bone-like apatite. This work aimed to prepare chitosan/bioactive glass composite scaffolds as biodegradable carriers for doxorubicin in bone tumour treatment. The composite scaffolds were prepared with varying weight fractions of bioactive glass (0–30 %) within the chitosan matrix using thermally induced phase separation followed by solvent sublimation. The resulting scaffolds were characterised using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy assisted with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The drug was loaded into the scaffolds by immersing them in doxorubicin solutions of different concentrations (25 and 50 ppm) for 5 h. The release of doxorubicin was then studied in a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) over a 24-h period using fluorescence spectrometry after scaffold immersion.

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Keywords

chitosan, polymer, bioactive glass, doxorubicin, osteosarcoma, composite