An Insight on the Swelling, Viscoelastic, Electrical, and Drug Release Properties of Gelatin–Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrogels

<p>The present study reports the in-depth analysis of the gelatin–carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels. The composite system formed phase-separated hydrogels, which is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The swelling of the carboxymethyl chitosan-containing hydrogels was lower than the gelatin hydrogel. Macroscale deformation study using a static mechanical tester indicated a viscoelastic nature of the hydrogels. A decrease in the impedance of the hydrogels was observed with an increase in the carboxymethyl chitosan content. The drug release from the hydrogels was predominantly Fickian diffusion mediated and was released in its active form. The results suggested the potential use of the hydrogels as drug delivery matrices.</p

Novel agar–stearyl alcohol oleogel-based bigels as structured delivery vehicles

<p>The present study describes the synthesis of novel bigels as delivery matrices for controlled delivery applications. The bigels were prepared by mixing agar hydrogel and stearyl alcohol oleogel in different proportions. The microscopic analysis of the bigels suggested the formation of biphasic bigels at lower proportions of oleogel and bicontinuous bigel at higher proportions. Stress relaxation study was used to analyze the mechanical properties. The viscoelastic property of the bigels was estimated by modeling the relaxation profile using Weichert model of viscoelasticity. The analysis of the electrical property of the bigels showed an increase in the impedance values as the oleogel content was increased. Further, a corresponding decrease in the electrical stability of the bigels was observed with an increase in the oleogel proportion. The analysis was prepared using (RQ)Q equivalent electrical circuit model. The ciprofloxacin hydrochloride release from the bigels was predominantly diffusion-mediated as analyzed by Korsmeyer–Pappas and Peppas–Sahlin models.</p

An in-Depth Analysis of the Swelling, Mechanical, Electrical, and Drug Release Properties of Agar–Gelatin Co-Hydrogels

<p>Agar–gelatin-based co-hydrogels were prepared with different compositions of the agar and the gelatin fractions. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding was higher in the co-hydrogels as compared to the gelatin hydrogel. Swelling studies indicated diffusion-mediated swelling. The electrical stability of the co-hydrogels was higher as compared to the gelatin hydrogel. Though the firmness of the co-hydrogels was higher, Weichert model of viscoelasticity indicated that the inherent mechanical stability of the gelatin hydrogel was superior. The release of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride was predominately Fickian diffusion-mediated. In gist, the co-hydrogels can be tried as polymeric constructs for controlled drug delivery applications.</p