pH-sensitive hydrogel from Colocasia esculenta mucilage for controlled tramadol release

Plant-derived polysaccharides have emerged as widely recognized materials for crafting biocompatible and biodegradable pH-responsive hydrogels, highly effective for prolong targeted drug delivery. A continuous influx of new members, contributing to build these networks with desired properties, may broaden the scope of application of these smart materials. Here, a pH-responsive hydrogel was created by grafting acrylic acid (AA) on the backbone of polysaccharide extracted from Colocasia esculenta mucilage (CM) using free radical polymerization method. Thermally stable, porous, and nontoxic CM-g-AA hydrogels exhibited impressive loading and pH-controlled, prolonged release of Tramadol hydrochloride during in vitro drug release studies. Acute oral toxicity results confirmed nontoxic and biocompatible nature of hydrogels. The pharmacokinetic evaluation of hydrogels in rabbits revealed a higher concentration and improved bioavailability than the aqueous solution of the drug. Hence, CM-g-AA hydrogels provides a good carrier system for pH-triggered prolonged drug delivery.