Web Release Date: February 16,
Self-Assembling Hydrogels Based on 
-Cyclodextrin/Cholesterol
Inclusion Complexes
Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Sorbonnelaan 16, P.O. Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Received November 23, 2007
Revised Manuscript Received January 8, 2008
Abstract:
A novel self-assembling poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel system based on inclusion complexes
between -cyclodextrin (-CD) and cholesterol is described. Hydrogels are formed after hydration of a mixture
of star-shaped 8-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) end-modified with -CD groups and the same star-shaped
PEG end-modified with cholesterol moieties. Rheological analysis as well as 2D-NMR spectroscopy demonstrated
that the obtained gels are due to formation of -CD/cholesterol inclusion complexes. As also observed by rheology,
the hydrogels are fully thermoreversible upon repetitive heating and cooling steps. Hydrogel properties were
dependent on polymer concentration, the -CD/cholesterol stoichiometry, and the molecular weight of the star-shaped PEG. Because of their assumed biocompatibility and expected physiological clearance, hydrogels based
on star-shaped PEG and -CD/cholesterol inclusion complexes offer excellent opportunities as drug delivery
matrices and for other pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.
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