Modified Starch-Based Hydrogels Cross-Linked with Citric Acid and their use as Drug Delivery Systems for Levofloxacin

New amphiphilic starch-polyester graft copolymer and chemically modified starch with fatty acid chains were synthesized and then cross-linked with a nontoxic agent, citric acid, in order to obtain hydrogels with a controlled hydrophilicity. They present well-defined pores, a controlled water retention degree and different time ranges for releasing the drug, depending on the synthesis parameters. The new hydrogels may be used in the biomaterials field as matrices for delivering biologically active agents, for coating a surface or a synthetic implant.