Radiation crosslinking polymerization of sterculia polysaccharide-PVA-PVP for making hydrogel wound dressings

The present study deals with the modification of sterculia gum by PVA-PVP through radiation crosslinking, to develop the hydrogels meant for the delivery of antimicrobial agent to the wounds. The hydrogels were characterized by SEM, FTIR, TGA and swelling studies. For the evaluation of swelling and drug release mechanism, the swelling kinetics and in vitro release dynamics of model drug from this matrix have been studied respectively in the solution of different pHs and simulated wound fluid. After 24 h swelling per gram of the hydrogel has taken (17.03 +/- 0.19)g of simulated wound fluid and has released (0.230 +/- 0.01)mg of drug in the simulated fluid. The release of drug in simulated fluids occurred through non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.