Groundbreaking Benzofused Hybrid Drug: Light-Responsive Reversible Absorption and Release in Hydrogel for Treating Kashin–Beck Disease

Light-controlled release technology uses light signals to regulate drug release. It has potential applications in drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing, and tissue engineering. In this study, we designed and synthesized light-responsive hydrogels to control the absorption and release of antibiotics. We used Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric (TGA) to investigate the physicochemical properties of the prepared hydrogel. In the ground state, the photosensitizer forms a stable complex with 7,8-dimethoxy-1,3-dihydro-2H-3-benzazepin-2-one in the hydrogel matrix. Exposure to 365 nm UV light causes the photosensitizer to undergo photoisomerization, converting from trans to cis structure, releasing the drug into the environment. Biological studies showed that 7,8-dimethoxy-1,3-dihydro-2H-3-benzazepin-2-one released from the hydrogel significantly reduced IL-1β and IL-6 levels in chondrocytes, demonstrating anti-inflammatory effects. This study provides a new approach for developing light-responsive hydrogels for drug delivery applications.