Poly (acrylic acid) grafted gelatin nanocarriers as swelling controlled drug delivery system for optimized release of paclitaxel from modified gelatin

The present study was undertaken to carry out modification of gelatin by grafting of poly (acrylic acid) onto the backbone of gelatin via free radical polymerization of acrylic acid using potassium persulphate (KPS) as an initiator. The modified gelatin was transformed into nanoparticles following microemulsion crosslinking method and the prepared nanoparticles were investigated as swelling controlled drug delivery system for controlled release of paclitaxel. The structure, morphology and composition of the grafted gelatin nanoparticles (gelatin-g-PAA) were studied using various analytical techniques like FTIR, TEM, SEM, XRD, and zeta potential measurements, and in vitro cytotoxicity of nanoparticles was assayed. The influence of experimental conditions such as chemical composition of poly (acrylic acid) grafted gelatin nanoparticles, pH of the release media, presence of salt and sugar solutions were also investigated on the release profiles of paclitaxel. The data of the drug release processes were analysed kinetically using Ficks power law, zero order, first order and Korsmeyer- Peppas models and a correlation was drawn between the quantity of released drugs and degree of swelling of the nanoparticles.