Carboxymethylated Tunicate Cellulose Nanogels for Ultrasound-assisted Transdermal Drug Delivery

초록

Annually, 8 kilotons of tunicates are produced, with 43% of shells discarded as waste, causing environmental pollution. Tunicate cellulose (TC) exhibits superior mechanical strength compared to plant cellulose, making it suitable for biomaterial applications. Existing transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) face challenges including limited skin barrier permeation, local irritation, skin damage, low biocompatibility, poor drug encapsulation efficiency, and high variable release. Nanogels possess flexible structures and excellent drug release control, with particle sizes matching skin stratum corneum gaps for penetration. Combined with ultrasound, skin barriers are relaxed to enhance drug penetration; however, ultrasound-generated heat and vibrations can destabilize nanostructures. Its high crystallinity provides exceptional mechanical properties, minimizing structural deformation during ultrasound irradiation. Its high aspect ratio effectively disperses forces within the network, while hydroxyl groups maintain moisture and stability during sonication. This study proposes converting marine waste into high-value materials by developing TC-based nanogels for ultrasound-assisted TDDS.