Preparation and Characterization of Metronidazole Loaded Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Base Superabsorbent for Drug Delivery Application

The present work focused on the design of drug delivery system (DDS) based on a pH-,saltand temperature sensitive superabsorbent hydrogel.The novel biopolymer-based superabsorbent hydrogels were prepared by grafting crosslinked poly(AA-co-BuMC) chains onto CMC backbones through a free radical polymerization method. the hydrogel,s structure was confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy. Results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation also showed a porous structure with smooth surface morphology of the hydrogel. Due to the reversible swelling behavior of the hydrogels, the synthesized networks can sense the environmental pH,ionic strength and temperature change, respectively, and achieve an oscillatory release pattern. Swelling profiles obtained clearly indicated that these hydrogels swell slightly in a simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and strongly in a simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Using drug metronidazole(MZ) as a model molecule, the in vitro controlled drugrelease behaviors of these hydrogels were investigated. The release proûles of MZ from the hydrogel were determined by UV–Vis absorption measurement at λmax 278 nm. The metronidazole drug, was successfully loaded into the hydrogels and in vitro release studies were performed in SGF for the initial 70 min, followed by SIF until complete dissolution. The release of metronidazole was continued up to 150 min. The release mechanism of the hydrogels was also studied using the Ritger-Peppas model.