Controlled release of plasmid DNA from photo-cross-linked pluronic hydrogels

Chemically cross-linked hydrogels composed of PluronicTM, water-soluble tri-block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide), were synthesized by a photo-polymerization method to achieve controlled DNA release. Pluronic F127 was di-acrylated to form a macromer and cross-linked to form a hydrogel structure in the presence and absence of vinyl group-modified hyaluronic acid (HA). UV irradiation time and the presence of the vinyl group-modified HA affected the mechanical property of Pluronic hydrogels to a great extent. Swelling ratio, degradation, and rheological behaviors of Pluronic hydrogels were investigated. When plasmid DNA was loaded in the hydrogels for sustained delivery, various release profiles were attained by varying UV irradiation time and modified HA amounts. Entrapped DNA was gradually damaged with increasing the UV exposure time as evidenced by decreasing the transfection efficiency. The DNA fractions released from the HA/Pluronic hydrogels, however, exhibited considerable transfection efficiencies commensurate with the UV exposure time, suggesting that they were not chemically degraded during the release period and substantially maintained functional gene expression activities despite the UV irradiation.