Preparation of a magnetic-field-sensitive hydrogel and preliminary study of its drug release behavior

The study describes the in situ formation of magnetite nanoparticles within a swollen polyacrylamide hydrogel. The average diameter of nanoparticles, as determined by TEM analysis, was found to be nearly 12.5 nm. In XRD analysis the characteristic peaks, observed at d = 3.07, 2.78, 2.64, 2.53, 2.32 and 2.03, also confirmed the formation of magnetite within the polymer network. The percent swelling of magnetite-loaded gel in physiological fluid was observed to decrease with increasing amount of magnetite in the gel. Moreover, the percent swelling increased from 140 to 254% as the strength of the applied magnetic field increased from 500 to 2500 Oe. Finally, the model drug, vitamin B(2), loaded magnetic gels showed relatively slower release in the presence of an applied magnetic field.