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Heterogeneous and homogeneous structure dextran–poly(methacrylic acid) interpenetrating network hydrogels: synthesis and an application study
Author(s) -
Ekici Sema
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.4267
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , methacrylic acid , poly(methacrylic acid) , rhodamine 6g , swelling , polymer chemistry , monomer , polymer , interpenetrating polymer network , materials science , polymerization , nuclear chemistry , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , drug carrier , dextran , drug delivery , chemical engineering , chemistry , molecule , organic chemistry , composite material , nanotechnology , engineering
pH‐sensitive dextran–poly(methacrylic acid) (Dext–pMeAc) full interpenetrating network hydrogels (INHs) were prepared by simultaneous radical polymerization of methacrylic acid monomer (MeAc) and Dext polymer chains in the presence of N , N ‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker in aqueous solution. These hydrogels were investigated as a drug carrier. The influence of MeAc and MBA contents in the network hydrogels on the swelling behaviour and mechanical strength of prepared Dext–pMeAc INHs was evaluated. Dext–pMeAc INHs were characterized by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, and kinetic swelling measurements were carried out in deionized water and in simulated gastric fluids (pH 1.1 and pH 7.4). Dext–pMeAc/1‐1, Dext–pMeAc/3‐1 and Dext–pMeAc/5‐1 hydrogels with molar ratios of n Dext / n MeAc = 10 and n MBA / n Dext = 10, 30 and 50 respectively showed a core–shell structure when they swelled. This phenomenon was not observed in Dext–pMeAc/5‐2, Dext–pMeAc/5‐3 and Dext–pMeAc/5‐5 hydrogels containing a higher amount of Dext in the gels. The swelling data proved the formation of INHs with pH‐sensitive behaviour. A drug release study was performed using Rhodamine 6G fluorescent dye as a model hydrophilic bioactive molecule. The in vitro release rate of Rhodamine 6G from Dext–pMeAc/5‐3 hydrogel was dependent on the pH of the release medium. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry