Design and Preparation of EGDMA Cross-Linked Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Acrylic acid Hydrogel for Controlled Delivery of Dexibuprofen

The study aims to evaluate the impact of monomer, polymer and cross-linker in the different concentrations on the hydrogels swell and release of the drugs at changing pH (1.2, 5.5, and 7.4). The pH sensitive hydrogels in this research are based on chain formation of PVP/AA by utilizing cross linker (EGDMA) with dexibuprofen as a model drug in the presence of initiator ammonium persulphate (APS), exploiting the free radical polymerization. Similarly, gel fraction, diffusion coefficient, as well as porosity are identified. The hydrogels were characterized using DSC study. No significant drug-polymer interactions were observed in DSC studies. In addition, hydrogels also revealed the pH dependent behavior of swelling gels. Release of drug from PVP/AA hydrogel and swelling behavior was increased positively as pH changes its value from the level of 1.2 to level 7.4. Behavior of swelling gel was strengthened by increasing the acrylic acid content, while decreased by enhancing the contents of EGDMA. Drug-release data were fitted into kinetic models comprising of first order, zero order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas. However, outcomes revealed the release of dexibuprofen with in hydrogel were non-fickian and that the mechanism was diffusion controlled.