Anti-inflammatory supramolecular hydrogel loaded chicoric acid based on graphene oxide modified hyaluronic acid and polyethylene glycol for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2024-12, Vol.287, p.138610, Article 138610
• Main Authors: Zhou, Chao, Hao, Weina, Yao, Jiapei, Zhu, Tianjun, Sun, Mengdi, Lu, Yaojun, Wang, Liangliang, Zhou, Xindie, Loh, Jia Ling Celestine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-inflammatory activity; Drug release; Rheumatoid arthritis; Supramolecular hydrogel
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138610

Chicoric acid (CA) as one of Chinese medicines had anti-inflammatory, less gastrointestinal irritation, less drug-resistance and low cost properties compared with chemical synthesized drug and biologics for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. To make CA preciously and effectly RA therapy, we firstly developed a supramolecular hydrogel (GHCAP) comprising β-cyclodextrin and graphene oxide (GO) modified hyaluronic acid (CD-HA-GO) as the “host” polymer and adamantane-modified four-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG-AD) as the “guest” polymer, and then the CA was loaded into the supramolecular hydrogel (DGHCAP). The results showed that DGHCAP exhibited injectable, high modulus, high CA loading rate (43.38 %) and slow CA releasing ratio (releasing 80 % in 80 h) compared with those of the supramolecular hydrogel without GO (DHCAP). Moreover, the DGHCAP demonstrated excellent compatibility and effect anti-inflammatory (down regulated proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and iNOs) in both in vitro and in vivo assays. The supramolecular hydrogels loaded Chinese medicine could provide another method to treat RA in clinical. An injectable supramolecular hydrogel (DGHCAP) loaded anti-inflammatory Chinese medicine-CA for RA treatment. [Display omitted] •The supramolecular hydrogel contained GO showed high elastic modulus, high drug loading and slow releasing ratio.•The supramolecular hydrogel loaded chicoric acid could inhibit MH7A cell movement.•The drug loaded supramolecular hydrogel could show better anti-inflammatory than directly drug treatment.•The drug loaded supramolecular hydrogel could promote RA therapy effectly through chicoric acid releasing.