Date of Award
1-1-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Pharmaceutical Science
First Advisor
Thomas A. Werfel
Second Advisor
Adam E. Smith
Third Advisor
Nicole M. Ashpole
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
As researchers begin to understand the complexity of diseases, interest in administering combination therapies has peaked due to the possible synergistic effects achieved compared to single therapies. However, the simultaneous co-delivery of drugs can introduce several challenges, underscoring the need for advanced drug delivery systems to optimize combination therapy outcomes while minimizing risks. Hydrogels are promising materials for drug delivery systems due to their unique ability to encapsulate therapeutic agents and release them in a controlled manner. Using poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone) (PVDMA) and functionalized PEG crosslinkers, we constructed a library of hydrogels with various properties and were able to release multiple drug classes at different rates dependent on crosslinking composition and density. Further, we demonstrated burst release of a small molecule and sustained release of a monoclonal antibody from the same hydrogel. The ability to finely control therapeutic release across various drug classes presents an exciting avenue for the development of multifunctional therapies, capable of eliciting specific, localized immune responses. Overall, the programmable hydrogel platform holds promise for advanced materials with tunable degradability and controlled release, offering broad utility in biomedical applications. Further studies will expand this hydrogel technology by incorporating different crosslinking chemistries, optimizing the hydrogel to deliver immunotherapeutics, and then its efficacy be tested in vitro and in vivo.
Recommended Citation
Rasmussen, Emily, "Multimodal Drug Release from Peg-Crosslinked Azlactone Hydrogels with Tunable Hydrolytic Stability" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3027.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/3027
