Gelatin Based pH-Sensitive Hydrogels for Colon-Specific Oral Drug Delivery: Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Release Study

Based on gelatin (Gltn) and acrylic acid (AAc), biodegradable pH-sensitive hydrogel was prepared using gamma radiation as super clean source for polymerization and crosslinking. Incorporation of PAAc in the prepared hydrogel was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effect of PAAc content on the morphological structure of the prepared hydrogel swollen at pH 1, 5, and 7 was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed the dependence of the porous structure of the prepared hydrogels on AAc content and the pH of the swelling medium. Swelling properties of gelatin/acrylic acid copolymer hydrogels with different AAc contents were investigated at different pH values. Swelling data showed that the prepared hydrogels possessed pronounced pH sensitivity. In vitro release studies were performed to evaluate the hydrogel potential as drug carrier using ketoprofen as a model drug. Experimental data showed that the release profile depends on both hydrogel composition and pH of the releasing medium. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 118: 2642-2649, 2010