Anionic polysaccharide hydrogels with thermosensitive properties

Microparticles of crosslinked carboxymethyl pullulan were chemically modified by introducing hydrophobic thermosensitive Poloxamer groups; these new pullulan derivatives are expected to present, besides their ionic character, both amphiphilic and thermosensitive properties. The obtained microparticles were physico-chemically characterized and their interaction with various proteins, such as enzymes (lysozyme, BSA), vaccines (tetanus anatoxin), was studied. The retention/release behavior of the biomolecules on/from the studied derivatives is influenced by electrostatic and hydrophobic forces, as well as by the presence of thermosensitive Poloxamer groups.