pH-Responsive Hydrogel Vectors with Nanostructures: Innovative Approaches for the Efficient Delivery of Lipophilic Drugs

In recent years, the encapsulation of liposoluble active compounds in hydrogel systems has emerged as a promising approach for drug delivery applications. In this study, we investigated the use of pH-responsive alginate hydrogels as carriers for lipophilic compounds. Two alginate-based drug delivery systems were developed. In the first system, curcumin, a liposoluble compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties, was bound to nanoporous zeolite and encapsulated within alginate beads. The pH-responsive nature of these carriers allowed for the controlled release of curcumin, offering protection against premature degradation and improving its bioavailability. The second system was developed for the delivery of Ozoile, a pool of molecules with anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties obtained from olive oil. A nanoemulsion based on alginate and Ozoile was prepared, and the electrospray technique was employed to fabricate the microspheres. The two different types of hydrogel vectors were further optimized with a chitosan coating to improve their stability and control the degradation behavior of the polymer matrix. Results regarding chemical composition, pH-responsive properties, and degradation behavior in physiological conditions were used to establish the potential use of these engineered systems for the therapeutic release of liposoluble active compounds at specific inflammatory sites.