MODIFIED GALACTOMANNAN-BASED HYDROGEL AS A CARRIER OF α-BISABOLOL-LOADED NANOCAPSULES

Chemical and structural modifications can enhance the properties of galactomannans-based hydrogels, thereby expanding their biomedical applications.^1,2 This study synthesized modified galactomannan hydrogels with alpha-bisabolol-loaded nanocapsules using 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid, aiming to explore their structural properties and potential as carriers for the anti-inflammatory molecule α-bisabolol. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was employed to analyze potential changes in nanocapsule size and their interaction within the three-dimensional network. Cryo-TEM images and SAXS results show that the nanocapsule wall size increases when incorporated into the three-dimensional network. Our results suggest that  nanocapsules in the hydrogel overlap, potentially doubling their wall size compared to those in suspension. FTIR confirms the presence of carboxylic acid in the reaction medium, and hydrolysis is inferred from GPC data, which identifies smaller molecular weights through chromatography. Finally,  galactomannan hydrogels can effectively carry α-bisabolol-loaded nanocapsules, maintaining their presence and stability even after being chemically modified and incorporated into the polymeric matrix.