Abstract This study is aimed at developing novel, inexpensive hydrogels for containing drug and with the potential for targeting cancer cells in vitro. In this work, Folic acid has been conjugated with α-Cyclodextrin and then used as a building block for constructing novel supramolecular hydrogels together with Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether in aqueous solutions. Resultant hydrogel materials have been investigated with respect to their controlled release characteristics for the encapsulated drug Doxorubicin hydrochloride and biological activity was also studied for this supramolecular hydrogels.
Keywords Drug delivery, Doxorubicin, Folic acid, supramolecular hydrogel, α-Cyclodextrin, Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether.