Acrylamide-based hydrogel drug delivery systems: Release of Acyclovir from MgO nanocomposite hydrogel

Polyacrylamide-based hydrogels were obtained by chemical crosslinking of MBA using acrylamide, sodium carboxymethylecellulose (NaCMC), N, N, N’, N’-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) and ammonium persulfate (APS) as the initiators. The interest on MgO nanoparticle is not only due to their stability under harsh process conditions but also for human health, where they are known to be necessary minerals. The systems were characterized with regard to the rheology behavior of hydrogel, degree of crosslinking the polymers, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). The dispersion of the nanoparticles (MgO) and drug (Acyclovir) inside the hydrogel was shown by TEM. Acyclovir, that is one of the famous drugs to treat the vaginal infections, was loaded in the polymer through the soaking method in an aqueous solution including the drug for drug delivery and release in the vaginal. The physical and chemical characterizations of the fortified hydrogels provided an assessed report on the morphological structure of the polymer, swelling behavior, bonding formation of gels and physical properties. To study the drug release in two different mediums, PBS and SVF aqueous solutions were utilized. To determine the amount of released drug from the hydrogels, HPLC was used. The pH sensitivity and the in vitro drug release of hydrogels in three different pH (pH 4,6,8) was studied. The objectives of this present study are to characterize the MgO nanocomposite hydrogel and to study the effect of different buffers on the release of Acyclovir from hydrogels.