Preparation of CMC/HEC Crosslinked Hydrogels for Drug Delivery

A novel crosslinked hydrogel was prepared from sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) using ammonium persulfate as an initiator and methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker for drug delivery. The chemical structure of the copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, and the morphology was observed under scanning electron microscopy. The swelling behavior of the hydrogels confirmed the pH- and ionic strength-sensitivity. The reversibility of the hydrogels and the on-off switching behavior were also investigated, providing the potential for drug delivery. The release of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from drug-loaded hydrogels was studied at different pH conditions to simulate gastrointestinal conditions. The amount of BSA released from the hydrogels at pH 1.2 was relatively low (17.8%), while 85.2% was released at pH 7.4. According to the results, the CMC/HEC hydrogel has the potential for use in the controlled release of oral medication.