Polyphosphate-Based Hydrogels as Drug-Loaded Wound Dressing: An <i>In Vitro</i> Study

Hydrogels are interesting materials for application in biomedicine due to their outstanding properties (e.g., water retention, drug release, and biocompatibility). This work evaluates two series of phosphorus-based hydrogels as potential wound-dressing candidates. The were synthesized via free-radical polymerization bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate (BMEP, ≥75 wt %) with (3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride solution (APTAC) or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS). Due optimized synthetic conditions, the displayed an unprecedented compressive elastic modulus (E′) reaching up 0.19 MPa, which represents a 1000-fold increase compared previously reported materials. Furthermore, good hydrolytic enzymatic stability, cytocompatibility using bovine fibroblasts (BFs), loading/release woundlike pH conditions. In summary, this demonstrates drug-eluting