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Novel hydrogel systems based on starch-g-poly(sodium-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonate-co-methacrylic acid) [starch-g-poly(AMPSNa-co-MAA)] has been prepared through graft copolymerization of AMPSNa and MAA onto starch chains. Characterization of these hydrogels is carried out using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hydrogels with maximum swelling capacity have exhibited better drug absorption suggesting that they are suitable as carriers for controlled drug delivery. The capability of these hydrogels as drug delivery vehicles has been evaluated at pH values 4.0, 7.0, and 9.2 using amoxicillin trihydrate as the model drug and these hydrogels have shown more drug release in basic medium when compared to acidic or neutral media.

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A new mechanochemical treatment was performed on cellulose with the objective of modifying its morphology, reducing its crystallinity, and enabling better dissolution. Cellulose treated with N,N′‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc)/lithium chloride (LiCl) was subjected to shear with natural rubber as the carrier and shear‐transfer medium. When cellulose was subjected to such a mechanochemical treatment, significant changes in its surface morphology and a decrease in crystalline index were observed. The dissolution of the mechanochemically treated cellulose samples in DMAc/LiCl was found to be better compared with the dissolution of samples subjected to either mechanical shear or the chemical action of DMAc/LiCl independently. Chemical interactions between DMAc/LiCl and cellulose were enhanced synergistically under shear‐induced deformation. When shear alone was used in the absence of a DMAc/LiCl treatment, changes in the morphology, crystalline index, and dissolution were found to be negligible. The shear‐induced cellulose samples were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44809.