Drug release from interpenetrating polymer networks based on poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate and gelatin

In order to develop new materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) and gelatin were synthesized. These two materials were cross-linked sequentially using N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide (NMBA) and glutaraldehyde (Glu). Two series of IPNs gels were synthesized by applying different amounts of PEGMEA and gelatin in the initial feed. Sequential IPNs were prepared by polymerizing and cross-linking PEGMEA in the presence of gelatin using redox initiators (e.g., ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl ethylenediamine (TEMED)), as well as NMBA as the cross-linking agent. Gelatin in firm gel was then cross-linked with 1% glutaraldehyde. The swelling kinetics, mechanical properties and drug-release behavior of these IPNs were analyzed. The surface properties were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the swelling ratio decreased with an increase in the content of both PEGMEA and gelatin in the IPNs. PEGMEA/gelatin-based full-IPNs had a significantly higher shear modulus (G) and cross-linking density (rho) when the content of PEGMEA was increased. The drug loading was very high due to the full-IPN structure. The drug-release velocity was mainly affected by the content of PEGMEA.