Halloysite nanotube nanocomposite hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and drug release behavior

Nanocomposite hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and drug release behavior were prepared by halloysite nanotube (HNT), oligo(trimethylene carbonate)–poly(ethylene glycol)–oligo(trimethylene carbonate) diacrylate (TPT), and alginate sodium (AG). The mechanical properties of the hydrogel were greatly enhanced by the addition of small amount of HNT (2 wt%). The drug release behavior of the hydrogels was examined using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as model drug, and TPT hydrogel showed a fickcian diffusion controlled release mechanism, while the BSA transport mechanism in TPT-HNT, TPT-AG, and TPT-AG-HNT hydrogels were anomalous transport. The cytocompatibility of the hydrogel were verified by the MTT assay, and the hydrogel showed comparable cytocompatibility with the widely recognized poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel.