MedGelfor controlled release
Biodegradable hydrogel for sustained release of drug

For research use only
MG0911EJ-1

The MedGel is a gelatin-based hydrogel for the sustained release of

1. Selection of an optimum hydrogel

drug. The hydrogel material has advantages of;

An optimum hydrogel for the sustained release of drug is determined by
the electric charge of drug (isoelectric point of protein) and the molecularJ

Simple use just by adding drug

JDrug release over 2 weeks

JDrug stabilization in vivo

For the drug which the optimum hydrogel is known, please refer theJSite-specific drug releasetable on the back page. If you cannot find the drug of your interest,

JEasily cut to a desired size and shapeplease contact the technical support of MedGEL.

weight. To maximize the release effect of hydrogel, please conduct a
selection test before the in vivo use.

-The selection test (in vitro) ＊ Required drug and supplies ＊Mechanism of Drug Release・Micro balance
・Incubator
gelatin・Drug detection system
・Microcentrifuge tubes (1.5ml -2.0ml)
・Drug solution 20µl (*1)

(1) Implantation or injection: drugHydrogel(2) degraded in vivo togenerate water-soluble
fragments

・MedGel (freeze-dried hydrogel sheet) (PI5, PI9) 2mg each・Phosphate-Buffered Saline solution(PBS) without Ca++ & Mg++%

1-1 Cut and place 2mg of MedGel into a microcentrifuge tube, and 20µ
l of drug solution is dropped onto the hydrogel. (n=3-5) (*2)
1-2 Leave the MedGel for 30min at room temperature or for overnightat 4 oC to allow the drug to sorbs into the hydrogel completely. (*3)%(3) drug release as a result ofhydrogel degradation
This hydrogel is prepared by chemical cross-linking of gelatin, and drug
is immobilized in the hydrogel through the intermolecular interaction
forces with gelatin. (1)upon administration into the body,(2)thehydrogel is degraded by enzymes, such as collagenase secreted fromthe surrounding tissue, and (3)drug immobilized is released as thehydrogel is degraded.
Before use■ M ed Gel is sup pl ie d i n a f re eze - d r ie d st at e. St ore at room
temperature and avoid humidity.

■ EOG (Ethylene oxide gas) sterilization is recommended.
■ Sterility is guaranteed before opening the package.
■ For research use only.

Not intended for any animals or human therapeutic or
diagnostic use.
How to use MedGel

1-3 Add 1ml of 1/10 PBS into the tube, followed by gentle shaking.
1-4 Collect the PBS supernatant 30 min or 2, 4 and 8hr later. Add 1ml offresh PBS to the tube again.
1-5 Measure the dr ug concentration of super natants collected toevaluate the time profile of drug released.
(*1) Drug should be dissolved with double distilled water or 1/10 PBS. Solution
containing carrier proteins or chelate compounds often suppresses theintermolecular interaction between the hydrogel and drug.
(*2) Be sure to exactly drop the drug solution onto the hydrogel without
spilling over.
(*3) For drug which has a low affinity for gelatin, prolong the sorbing time up
to 3 hr at 37oC.

For optimization, it is necessary to select the hydrogel which shows lesscumulative amount of drug released.
2. Preparation of drug-incorporated hydrogel
For the purpose of implantation and injection, please use the sterilizedhydrogel. Drug should be dissolved with double distilled water, PBS ornormal saline. Do not use the drug solution containing carrier protein orOptimal hydrogel for different drugs

at high ionic concentrations.

Hydrogel typedrugs-Required drug and supplies -bFGF (Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor)

・Micro balance

TGF-β1 (Transforming Growth Factor)

・Incubator

HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor)

・Sampling tubes
・Drug solution

PDGF-BB (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor)

IP5

NGF (Nerve Growth Factor)

・MedGel (sheet or microsphere)

BDNF (Brain-derived neurorophic factor)

2-1 Weigh the freeze-dried MedGel. (ex. 2mg per mouse)

GDNF (Glial cell line -derived neurorophic factor)

2-2 Prepare about 10µl of drug solution per 1mg of MedGel.

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)、cisplatin
BMP-2 (Bone Morphogenic Protein 2)

2-3 Drop the drug solution onto the freeze-dried hydrogel and leave it

HB-EGF (Heparin-Binding EGF-like Growth Factor)

for 30min at room temperature, or for overnight at 4 oC to allow theIP9drug sorbs into the hydrogel completely.

KGF (Keratinocyte Growth Factor)<sheet>FGF10 (Fibroblast Growth Factor)

2-4 Implant the drug-incorporated hydrogel to animals by surgical

EPO (Erythropoietin)
EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor)

treatment.
<microsphere>

G-CSF (Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor)

E50

2-4 Add appropriate amount of saline for injection.

CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor)

2-5 Inject d r ug-incor porated microsphere to animals following
dispersion. (*1)

Plasmid DNA、siRNA
MedGel is also available for the sustained release of peptide and antibody(*1) Use 25G and above needle to inject.
Q&A・Can we decide the type of hydrogel only by the isoelectric point of protein?
In addition to the electrostatic force, the molecular weight and the spacestructure of drugs will affect the intermolecular interaction between theMedGel and drug. We recommend to conduct the selection test.

References
Review
Tabata Y. Significance of release technology in tissue engineering. Drug
Discov Today. 2005 10(23-24):1639-46.
Yamamoto M, Tabata Y. Tissue engineering by modulated gene・100% of drugs was released from the hydrogel. Why?
C h e c k t h e s ol ve n t of d r u g. S ol u t io n a t low io n ic s t r e n g t h s i srecommended.
・Should we wait the hyd rogel get t ransparent af ter the d r ug solution
dropping?
Air bubbles are sometimes seen in the drug solution swollen hydrogel, butthere is no influence of the hydrogel appearance on the release profiles.
・Can we trace the degradation of MedGel or release of drug?

delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2006 58(4):535-54.
Original paper
Ya m a mot o M , Ta k a h a sh i Y, Ta b a t a Y. C o nt r ol le d r ele a s e bybiodegradable hydrogels enhances the ectopic bone formation of bonemorphogenetic protein. Biomaterials. 2003 24(24):4375-83.
Tabata Y, Nagano A, Ikada Y. Biodegradation of hydrogel carrier
incorporating fibroblast growth factor. Tissue Eng. 1999 (2):127-38.

To get the precise profile, we recommend a radioisotope trace procedure.
For further information, please contact the technical support of MedGEL.

CodeHydrogel typePI5-9480E53
PI5-95MS

IP5Release period

ShapePackage

2week

sheet
(approx. 25 x 25 x 3mm)

150mg

3week

microsphere15mg x 2PI9-9910E53

IP92week

sheet(approx. 25 x 25 x 3mm)

150mg

E50-MS2

E50

3week

microsphere15mg x 2＊ All products are EOG sterilized.

Customer support: order@medgel.jp
MedGEL Corporation

668-3 Motozaimoku-cho Fushimi-ku kyoto, 612-8043 Japan