Modified Sulfanilamide Release from Intelligent Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogels

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels are known for their thermosensitive properties.
• Sulfanilamide is an important antimicrobial agent.
• Developing effective drug delivery systems for sulfanilamide is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate PNIPAM hydrogels as carriers for sulfanilamide.
• To characterize the structural and swelling properties of these hydrogels.
• To evaluate the influence of crosslinking degree on sulfanilamide incorporation and release.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of PNIPAM hydrogels cross-linked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate.
• Structural characterization using FTIR, XRD, and SEM.
• Analysis of residual reactants via HPLC.
• Swelling behavior monitoring at varying temperatures and pH.
• Examination of sulfanilamide release kinetics.

Main Results:

• FTIR, XRD, and SEM confirmed sulfanilamide incorporation into PNIPAM hydrogels.
• Hydrogel swelling was dependent on temperature and crosslinker content; pH had minimal effect.
• Sulfanilamide loading efficiency increased with crosslinking degree (87.36%–95.29%).
• Higher crosslinking reduced sulfanilamide release, with 73.3%–93.5% released within 24 hours.

Conclusions:

• PNIPAM hydrogels demonstrate effective sulfanilamide incorporation and controlled release.
• The thermosensitivity and tunable release characteristics make them promising carriers for sulfanilamide.
• Further development of these hydrogels could lead to advanced drug delivery applications.