Controlled Release of Hydrophilic Active Agent from Textile Using Crosslinked Polyvinyl Alcohol Coatings

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Functional fabrics with active material release are crucial for biomedical and cosmetic uses.
• Controlled release systems are needed to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate nonwoven fabrics coated with crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for encapsulating and controlling the release of allantoin.
• To compare the performance of PVA coatings crosslinked with citric acid (CA) versus polyacrylic acid (PAA).

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of nonwoven fabrics coated with crosslinked PVA using CA or PAA.
• Characterization of coatings using gel content, DSC, and DMA.
• Evaluation of swelling behavior and allantoin release kinetics.

Main Results:

• PVA:CA coatings showed higher crosslinking density than PVA:PAA coatings.
• PVA:PAA 7:3 films exhibited 62% swelling in 30 min; PVA:CA 7:3 films showed 36% swelling in 60 min.
• PVA:CA 7:3 released 97% allantoin in 8 h; PVA:PAA 7:3 released 96% in 20 h, following zero-order kinetics.

Conclusions:

• Crosslinking chemistry significantly impacts the release profile of allantoin from PVA-coated fabrics.
• PVA:CA coatings provide rapid release, suitable for immediate effect applications.
• PVA:PAA coatings enable sustained release, ideal for prolonged therapeutic action.