Development and Characterization of Chitosan based Polymeric Hydrogel Membranes

The current study deals with the development of glutaraldehyde crosslinked chitosanbased delivery system with improved mechanical properties utilizing reactive solvent technique. The prepared systems were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The systems were also analysed for mechanical and pH-dependent swelling properties and they were also analysed for their hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. FTIR studies indicated formation of imine bonds during the crosslinking reaction of chitosan and glutaraldehyde. The thermal, XRD and mechanical studies indicated optimal properties for the system prepared with 5% methacrylic acid as reactive solvent. The developed systems indicated pH-dependent swelling behaviour with increased swelling at lower pH. The prepared delivery systems were found to be highly hemocompatible in the presence of human blood and cytocompatible in the presence of L929 fibroblast cells. The release of the model drug (salicylic acid) from the delivery systems in 0.01 N hydrochloric acid indicated Fickian kinetics. The developed delivery systems could be used to deliver drug selectively in the stomach. Key-words: cationic polymer, membrane, polyelectrolyte, cytocompatibility. Source: Designed Monomers & Polymers, Volume 13, Number 3, 2010, pp. 193-206(14)