Biyomedikal uygulamalar için yenilenebilir kaynaklardan akıllı polimer nanoyapılar

Thermoresponsive hydrogels are polymeric structures that play an active role in drug delivery systems. Conventional raw materials are generally used in the synthesis of the hydrogels. They should have biocompatible and biodegradable properties to be employed in the body as controlled drug release systems. The use of renewable resources has great importance within the scope of economic sustainability. For that reason, the synthesis of the thermoresponsive hydrogels with renewable sources is the main purpose of this thesis. So, the materials used in the hydrogel synthesis can be involved in the environmental cycle. Synthesis of temperature-sensitive hydrogels using bacterial cellulose, castor oil and derivatives, evaluation of drug loading and release performances, examination of in vitro swelling behaviors, and cytotoxicity trials are the main parts of this study. It is possible to obtain drug release systems with high biocompatibility and biodegradability characters by using plant and microbial based materials in hydrogel synthesis. Quercetin was used as a model drug molecule. The studies on the dissolution problems of quercetin were performed. Drug release ratios of hydrogels were investigated and the parameters that affect drug release characters were highlighted. The durability of the hydrogels was examined by swelling performances. The biocompatibility of hydrogels and starting materials was investigated by cytotoxicity tests. According to the results, novel thermoresponsive hydrogels were successfully synthesized with renewable resources. This study is a pioneering study that highlights the importance of plant and bacteria based materials for biomedical applications.