A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DUAL IONICALLY CROSSLINKED INJECTABLE XANTHAN GUM AND CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE HYDROGELS

Abstract

Hydrogels are three-dimensional and stable networks that possess the ability to absorb substantial amounts of water or biological fluids. Injectable hydrogels show great potential as versatile drug delivery platforms in regenerative and restorative medicine by offering noninvasive conditions and reducing time and cost. Xanthan gum (XG) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), which are biocompatible, biodegradable and have high hydrophilic properties, are biopolymers whose value is increasing in the biomedical field. In this study, we present a dual ionic crosslinking method to form physiologically stable XG and CMC hydrogels using two distinct sources of calcium ions (Ca²⁺). This study aims to develop, analyze, and compare XG and CMC hydrogels synthesized using internal and external ionic crosslinking techniques. Our findings confirmed the successful synthesis of XG and CMC hydrogels through double crosslinking, utilizing internal gelation with CaSO₄·2H₂O and external ionic gelation with CaCl₂. As polymer concentrations increased, hydrogel stiffness also increased, while swelling and degradation rates decreased. Injectable XG and CMC hydrogels exhibited similar trends in rheological behavior, swelling, and degradation profiles. However, when XG and CMC hydrogels at the same concentration were compared, XG hydrogels exhibited slightly higher mechanical properties than CMC hydrogels. In summary, injectable xanthan gum and carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels, obtained through double ionic crosslinking, can be utilized as drug delivery-release systems for applications in regenerative and reconstructive medicine.