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Gellan/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels: characterization and evaluation as delivery systems
Author(s) -
Cascone Maria Grazia,
Barbani Niccoletta,
Maltinti Simona,
Lazzeri Luigi
Publication year - 2001
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.768
Subject(s) - vinyl alcohol , self healing hydrogels , gellan gum , materials science , crystallization , chemical engineering , polyvinyl alcohol , dynamic mechanical analysis , polymer chemistry , polymer , composite material , chemistry , food science , engineering
Bioartificial polymeric materials in the form of hydrogels were prepared starting from blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) with gellan, using a procedure based on freeze–thawing cycles. The effect exerted by gellan on the properties of these materials was investigated. The materials were loaded with human growth hormone (GH) and the release of the drug was evaluated. The results obtained indicated that gellan favours the crystallization process of PVOH allowing the formation of a material with a more homogeneous and stable structure than that of pure PVOH hydrogels. Both the PVOH melting enthalpy and the elastic modulus increased with increasing gellan content in the hydrogels; in addition, the higher the gellan content in the samples, the lower was the amount of PVOH released. Gellan/PVOH hydrogels were able to release GH and the release was affected by the content of the biological component. The amount of GH released was within a physiological range. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry