Development of a Polyacrylamide-Based Hydrogel System for Controlled Delivery of BPEI to Chronic Wounds
Major
Biology
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Chemistry
Faculty Advisor
Charles Rice
Location
CNS Atrium
Start Date
4-11-2026 8:30 AM
End Date
4-11-2026 9:45 AM
Abstract
Nonhealing chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers are a major medical concern lacking effective treatment. Branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) is a promising wound therapy that addresses multiple causes of nonhealing wounds (e.g., biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and inflammation), but effective use requires controlled delivery. Our project will develop and characterize polyacrylamide hydrogel discs for loading and release of BPEI, focusing on BPEI’s release kinetics and loading capacity under different pH values and temperatures representing physiological conditions. The hydrogel discs will be loaded by incubation with BPEI solution ranging from pH 3 to pH 11, then transferred to release in aqueous solution and sampled (100 µL) at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours at room temperature and 37°C. BPEI concentration will be quantified using copper complex and ninhydrin assays with calibration curves and chromatographic analysis. Release data will be modeled using Fick’s laws to estimate the diffusion coefficient. The outcome will result in a further understanding of the relationship between physiological conditions and BPEI loading and release kinetics. This will enable optimized quantitative data for the creation of safe and inexpensive therapies for nonhealing wounds.
Development of a Polyacrylamide-Based Hydrogel System for Controlled Delivery of BPEI to Chronic Wounds
CNS Atrium
Nonhealing chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers are a major medical concern lacking effective treatment. Branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) is a promising wound therapy that addresses multiple causes of nonhealing wounds (e.g., biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and inflammation), but effective use requires controlled delivery. Our project will develop and characterize polyacrylamide hydrogel discs for loading and release of BPEI, focusing on BPEI’s release kinetics and loading capacity under different pH values and temperatures representing physiological conditions. The hydrogel discs will be loaded by incubation with BPEI solution ranging from pH 3 to pH 11, then transferred to release in aqueous solution and sampled (100 µL) at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours at room temperature and 37°C. BPEI concentration will be quantified using copper complex and ninhydrin assays with calibration curves and chromatographic analysis. Release data will be modeled using Fick’s laws to estimate the diffusion coefficient. The outcome will result in a further understanding of the relationship between physiological conditions and BPEI loading and release kinetics. This will enable optimized quantitative data for the creation of safe and inexpensive therapies for nonhealing wounds.