Gelatin-Based Emulsion Hydrogels as a Matrix for Controlled Delivery System

The study describes the development of gelatin based emulsion hydrogels with different proportions of sunflower oil. During the preparation of emulsion hydrogels, the microstructures of the emulsions were studied under light microscope. The hydrogels were characterized by light microscopy, swelling property, mucoadhesivity, pH, dc impedance measurements, and hemocompatibility studies. Salicylic acid was incorporated within the oil phase, and its release behavior was studied. The microscopy of the emulsions indicated that the droplet size distribution becomes monodispersed as the proportion of the oil was increased. The microscopy of the emulsion hydrogels showed distorted oil droplets for all the samples. The swelling property, mucoadhesivity, dc impedance measurements, and release rate of salicylic acid were found to dependent on the oil proportion. All the samples were found to have pH in the range of 6.00-7.00 and were hemocompatible in nature, indicating its probable use as controlled delivery vehicles.