Preparation and Properties of Glycerohydrogels Based on Silicon Tetraglycerolate, Chitosan Hydrochloride and Glucomannan

Glycerohydrogels based on silicon glycerolate, chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are widely studied for use in biomedical applications. In line with the general trend of replacing synthetic polymers with natural ones in such compositions, it would be of interest to replace PVA with the polysaccharide glucomannan (GM), as well as to introduce functional additives to impart the desired properties, including gelation time, to the final hydrogel. In this work, a comprehensive study of the preparation conditions and properties of glycerohydrogels based on silicon tetraglycerolate, chitosan hydrochloride (CS·HCl) and GM was carried out. Viscometry was used to assess the conformational state of CS·HCl and GM macromolecules, and their associates in solution before gelation. Gelation was studied using the vessel inversion method. The mucoadhesive and the dermoadhesive properties of the glycerohydrogels obtained were assessed using the tearing off method from the model substrates simulating mucous and dermal tissues. The conformational state of the individual polymers and their mixed associates in solution before gelation was estimated; the intrinsic viscosity and the hydrodynamic radius of the macromolecular coils were calculated. The influence of various factors (addition of ε-aminocaproic and hydrochloric acids, sodium chloride, hydroxide and tetraborate to vary the acidity and ionic strength of the medium, as well as temperature) and the molecular weight of chitosan on the gelation time was studied. The gelation time achieved was less than 2 min, which is promising in practical terms, i.e., for creating liquid plasters. Our best samples are not inferior to the commercial preparation “Metrogyl Denta”® in terms of tearing force during mucoadhesion and dermoadhesion at short gelation times. Thus, the glycerohydrogels synthesized by us and based on silicon tetraglycerolate, CS·HCl and GM could find usage in new biopharmaceutical and biomedical applications.