Synthesis of dual physical self-healing starch-based hydrogels for repairing tissue defects

Hydrogels have the potential to simulate and permeate body tissues. They can be used in many biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, wound dressings, contact lenses, synthetic implants, biosensors, and tissue engineering. Despite recent significant advances in hydrogel fabrication, with the introduction of double network hydrogels, with ionic or hydrogen bonds, there is still the challenge of achieving optimal mechanical properties with appropriate self-healing ability. To solve the above problem, in this study, a new type of starch/chitosan/PVA/borax hydrogel was synthesized by adopting the one-pot method. The effect of concentration and ratio of raw materials on the final properties of hydrogels, such as the degree of hydrophilicity, morphology, degradation, mechanical strength, and drug release rate, was investigated. The properties of hydrogels were examined by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and contact angle, which confirmed the composite synthesis and uniform distribution of HNT and curcumin. In addition, the composite hydrogel showed excellent mechanical properties. Drug release studies confirmed that the drug is slowly released from the nanocomposite hydrogels. The results showed that starch-based nanocomposite hydrogels could provide appropriate repairing potential for defects exposed to changeable parameters.