Fabrication and characterization of microstructured and pH sensitive interpenetrating networks hydrogel films and application in drug delivery field

Novel microstructured and pH sensitive poly(acryliac acid-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (P(AA-co-HEMA)/PVA) interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel films were prepared by radical precipitation copolymerization and sequential IPN technology. The first P(AA-co-HEMA) network was synthesized in the present of IPN aqueous solution by radical initiating, then followed by condensation reaction (Glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent) within the resultant latex, it formed multiple IPN microstructured hydrogel film. The film samples were characterized by IR, SEM and DSC. Swelling and deswelling behaviors and mechanical property showed the novel multiple IPN nanostuctured film had rapid response and good mechanical property. The IPN films were studied as controlled drug delivery material in different pH buffer solution using cationic compound, crystal violet as a model drug. The drug release followed different release mechanism at pH 4.0 and pH 7.4, respectively. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.