In this study, a pH-responsive
hydrogels based on
laponite rapid dispersion (Lap®)/
chitosan (CS)/
polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) designed and was used for controlled delivery of the anticancer
drug curcumin (CUR). First, it was accomplished by dissolving CUR in Lap® dispersion under the influence of the pH of the environment. Then, in the presence of Lap®CUR cross-linking was incorporated between CS and PVA
polymers. The structural features of Lap®CUR/CS@PVA
hydrogels are characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM/EDS, TEM, TGA, Zeta potential, and XPS. The in vitro drug release profiles confirmed a pH-responsive controlled release of CUR in acidic pH for all
hydrogels. During 12 h, the cumulative release of CUR from Lap®CUR/0.1CS@PVA
hydrogel was 27.9% and 12.3%, at pH 5.5 and 7.4, respectively. While during three days the release rate reached 48.5% and 18.5%. The CUR release kinetic from
hydrogels also suggests that the kinetic data well fitted to the Korsmeyer-Peppas, diffusion-controlled and Fickian diffusion. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxicity and
DAPI staining study clearly illustrated that Lap®CUR/0.1CS@PVA
hydrogel had lower cytotoxicity than CUR against MDA-MB 231
cancer cells, which confirmed the controlled release of
drug through
hydrogels. Meanwhile, in vitro
hemolysis,
antioxidant and antibacterial tests revealed that the prepared
hydrogels have good blood compatibility, excellent
antioxidant properties, and antibacterial activity. Based on the obtained results, the designed
hydrogels could be potentially applied as pH-controlled drug delivery systems for
cancer therapy.