Influence of Gamma Radiation on the Toxicity of Lightly Crosslinked Polyacrylic Acid and Gel Based on It

The effect of γ-irradiation on the acute toxicity of commercial lightly crosslinked polyacrylic acid of the trademark Carbomer 141G and a gel based on it has been studied by intraperitoneal, cutaneous, and oral administration to experimental Balb/c and C57BL/6 mice. Preliminary γ-irradiation of the carbomer decreased the toxicity of its aqueous dispersion upon intraperitoneal administration. At the same time, the dynamics of body weight of experimental animals showed a significant decrease (p = 0.05) in average body weight 2–3 days after the introduction of aqueous dispersions of both nonirradiated and irradiated carbomer with a tendency to restore body weight by 14 days; dispersions with a high carbomer content led to death. Unlike the oral administration of gels, when a decrease in the weight of experimental animals was observed, an increase in the weight of the experimental animals was observed from the very first days of the experiment in the case of cutaneous administration of gels, and their death did not occur. The addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (0.07 wt %) and fullerene C60 (0.10 wt %) to the gels led to a decrease in the average weight gain of animals upon both oral and cutaneous administration of the gels without causing a toxic effect on the body. Studies of the acute toxicity of the original carbomer and its γ-irradiated analogue up to 1000 kGy allowed them to be classified as hazard class 3 for the intraperitoneal route of administration in accordance with GOST [State Standard] 12.1.007–76. The results of this study indicate that polymer gels based on lightly crosslinked polyacrylic acid (in irradiated and nonirradiated forms) can be used as carriers of active drug components for targeted delivery in the treatment of socially significant diseases.