Acrylamide-grafted-guar gum (pAAm-g-GG) was prepared and blended with chitosan (CS) to form interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel microspheres by the emulsion cross-linking method using glutaraldehyde (GA) as a cross-linker. The microspheres encapsulated up to 74% of ciprofloxacin (CFX), an antibiotic drug, having a plasma half-life of 4 h and the release of CFX was extended up to 12 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed their spherical structure with smooth surfaces; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the grafting reaction as well as chemical stability of CFX in the blend IPN hydrogel microspheres. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques confirmed the molecular level dispersion of CFX in the matrix. Swelling of microspheres performed in pH 7.4 buffer media was used to understand the drug release kinetics. In vitro release of CFX in pH 1.2 and 7.4 media showed a dependence on blend composition of the IPN, extent of cross-linking as well as initial drug loading. In vitro release data was analyzed using empirical equations, namely, KorsmeyerÀPeppas, to compute the diffusion exponent (n), whose value ranged between 0.19 and 0.33, indicating non-Fickian transport of CFX through the blend IPN hydrogel microspheres.

Semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogel blend microspheres of gelatin and hydroxyethyl cellulose were prepared by a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion technique and used to investigate the controlled release (CR) of theophylline (THP), an antiasthamatic drug. About 74% encapsulation of THP was achieved, and the drug release profiles were analyzed in terms of gelatin and hydroxyethyl cellulose blend composition, amount of cross-linking agent, and percentage drug loading. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of the IPN blend matrix, as well as chemical stability of the drug in the microsphere. The physical state of the drug in the IPN matrix as evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) remained undisturbed. The size of the microspheres varied from 98 to 144 μm as measured by laser light scattering. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated the smooth surface morphology of the microspheres. Equilibrium and dynamic swelling of the microspheres in distilled water were measured to compute the diffusion coefficient (D v) of the drug solution through the microspheres. The in vitro cumulative release data were analyzed using an empirical equation to compute the diffusion exponent (n), whose values suggest a non-Fickian mode of transport.

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Abstract. This paper reports the preparation and characterization of novel pH-and thermo-responsive blend hydrogel microspheres of sodium alginate (NaAlg) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAAm)-grafted-guar gum (GG) i.e., PNIPAAm-g-GG by emulsion cross-linking method using glutaraldehyde (GA) as a cross-linker. Isoniazid (INZ) was chosen as the model antituberculosis drug to achieve encapsulation up to 62%. INZ has a plasma half-life of 1.5 h, whose release was extended up to 12 h. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to confirm the grafting reaction and chemical stability of INZ during the encapsulation. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the drug's physical state, while powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the molecular level dispersion of INZ in the matrix. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed varying surface morphologies of the drug-loaded microspheres. Temperature-and pH-responsive nature of the blend hydrogel microspheres were investigated by equilibrium swelling, and in vitro release experiments were performed in pH1.2 and pH7.4 buffer media at 37°C as well as at 25°C. Kinetics of INZ release was analyzed by Ritger-Peppas empirical equation to compute the diffusional exponent parameter (n), whose value ranged between 0.27 and 0.58, indicating the release of INZ follows a diffusion swelling controlled release mechanism.

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was synthesized and blended with gelatin (GE) to prepare hydrogel microspheres by w/o emulsion cross-linking in the presence of glutaraldehyde (GA), which acted as a cross-linker. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was encapsulated to investigate its controlled release (CR) characteristics in acidic (pH 1.2) and alkaline (pH 7.4) buffer media. The microspheres which formed were spherical in nature, with smooth surfaces, as judged by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the carboxymethylation of CS and the chemical stability of 5-FU in the formulations. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the physical state and molecular level dispersion of 5-FU. Equilibrium swelling of microspheres was performed in water, in order to understand the water uptake properties. The in vitro release of 5-FU was extended up to 12 h in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer, revealing an encapsulation efficiency of 72%. The effects of blend composition, the extent of cross-linking, and initial drug loading on the in vitro release properties, were investigated. When analyzed through empirical equations, the release data suggested a non-Fickian transport mechanism.