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Updated: Jul 22, 2025
Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
Novel Natrosol/Pectin-co-poly (acrylate) based pH-responsive polymeric carrier system for controlled delivery of
Nadiah Zafar1, Asif Mahmood2, Sehar Ilyas1
1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Background & Objectives:
This study aimed to create a controlled delivery system for Tapentadol Hydrochloride by developing interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of Natrosol-Pectin copolymerized with Acrylic Acid and Methylene bisacrylamide, and to analyze the effects of various ingredients on the physical and chemical characteristics of the IPNs.
Methods:
Novel Tapentadol Hydrochloride-loaded Natrosol-Pectin based IPNs were formulated by using the free radical polymerization technique. Co-polymerization of Acrylic Acid (AA) with Natrosol and Pectin was performed by using Methylene bisacrylamide (MBA). Ammonium persulfate (APS) was used as the initiator of crosslinking process. The impact of ingredients i.e. Natrosol, Pectin, MBA, and Acrylic Acid on the gel fraction, porosity, swelling (%), drug loading, and drug release was investigated. FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM and EDX studies were conducted to confirm the grafting of polymers and to evaluate the thermal stability and surface morphology of the developed IPNs.
Results:
Swelling studies exhibited an increase in swelling percentage from 84.27 to 91.17% upon increasing polymer (Natrosol and Pectin) contents. An increase in MBA contents resulted in a decrease in swelling from 85 to 67.63%. Moreover, the swelling was also observed to increase with higher AA contents. Significant drug release was noted at higher pH instead of gastric pH value. Oral toxicological studies revealed the nontoxic and biocompatible nature of Natrosol-Pectin IPNs.
Interpretation & Conclusion:
The developed IPNs were found to be an excellent system for the controlled delivery of Tapentadol Hydrochloride.
