Synthesis and characterization of poly ( acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid)/chitosan (derived from fish scales) for controlled release of amoxicillin drug

Abstract Chitosan (CS) can be extracted from waste fish scales through a series of chemical processes, including demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation. The biomaterial poly (acrylamide [AM]‐co‐acrylic acid [AA])/CS is a unique superabsorbent material synthesized through the free radical graft copolymerization method by using AM, AA, and CS powder. During synthesis, ammonium persulfate is used as an initiator, and N , N ′‐methylene bisacrylamide is used as a cross‐linker. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy have been studied to know about the morphology and structure of the synthesized superabsorbent materials. The water absorbency of the material continuously increases from day 1 to day 30. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) of the superabsorbent material show adequate thermal stability. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that the synthesized biomaterial is virtually amorphous in nature. The percentage of biodegradability increases with time. The encapsulation efficiency of amoxicillin drugs is around 70%, which indicates that the biomaterial is highly efficient for drug release applications. The synthesized novel biomaterial is a low‐cost, eco‐friendly, and thermally stable hydrogel that can be effectively used in drug release applications. Highlights Chitosan (CS)‐based hydrogels are highly pH‐sensitive towards drug release. The biodegradability and swelling behavior of the synthesized biomaterial were studied by adopting a suitable methodology. The novel material formed was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, TGA, and Scanning electron microscopy. The encapsulation efficiency, kinetic study, and controlled drug release behavior of the amoxicillin drug were studied in solutions of simulated gastric fluid and phosphate‐buffered saline. The material developed in this study shows good performance in controlled drug delivery, and is therefore suitable for manufacturing medical devices used in drug delivery.