Effect of vitamin derivatives on gelation rate and gel strength of methylcellulose.

A thermo-sensitive methylcellulose (MC) hydrogel was prepared using three types of vitamin derivatives with or without phosphate groups. The gelation behavior of each MC hydrogel containing vitamin or vitamin derivatives was monitored using a rheometer. The gelation rate and mechanical strength of the MC hydrogels were improved by vitamin derivatives with phosphate groups due to their salting-out effects, whereas their injectabilities retained proper maximum forces. Also, the vitamin derivatives with phosphate groups were released slower from the MC hydrogel than the vitamins without phosphate groups due to higher physical crosslinking densities. Therefore, this thermo-responsive MC hydrogel containing vitamin derivatives has a great potential as an injectable hydrogel for drug delivery.