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Supramolecular pH- and Thermo-Responsive Hydrogel with Semi-Interpenetrating Network Architecture for Smart Burn Wound D

CSEF · 2026 Chemistry (Senior Division)

Daniel Jiang

Overview

Purpose: Conventional silver sulfadiazine burn dressings cause cytotoxicity from uncontrolled drug release and damage newly formed tissue during removal. This study engineered a supramolecular pH- and thermo-responsive hydrogel for triggered drug delivery and trauma-free dressing changes, extended with a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) to improve structural durability. Hypothesis: Crosslinked beta-cyclodextrin polymer (CBCD) enhances solubility of sulfadiazine (SDZ) via inclusion complexation and releases drug preferentially at infected wound pH 8.5 over normal skin pH 5.5, exploiting SDZ ionization above its pKa of 6.4. Poloxamer-407 provides reversible thermal sol-gel transition for body-temperature application and cold-press removal. A semi-IPN formed by green crosslinking of CBCD and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with citric acid was hypothesized to improve erosion resistance while preserving pH-responsive release. Methods: SDZ-CBCD phase-solubility diagrams were constructed at varying CBCD concentrations. Gelation temperature was determined by tube inversion. Drug release was measured by UV-Vis spectrophotometry at pH 5.5 and 8.5 using a simulated Franz cell. Semi- IPN films were prepared by airbrush-spraying aqueous CBCD-PVA-citric acid blends onto aluminum foil and curing at 80-130°C, then characterized by swelling ratio, polarized light microscopy, and SDZ release kinetics. Results and Conclusions: CBCD formed 1:1 inclusion complexes with SDZ (Kc = 65 M-1), enhancing solubility 16-fold. SDZ release at pH 8.5 was 2-5 times higher than pH 5.5, following Higuchi diffusion kinetics. Poloxamer-407 gelled at 32-37°C and liquefied below 20°C. Citric acid crosslinking yielded stable semi-IPN films; higher PVA molecular weight produced greater network constraint consistent with semi-IPN architecture. No hazardous materials or biological specimens were used.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2026 Chemistry (Senior Division) · Entry S-05-13

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