Preparation of a Magnetic-Field-Sensitive Hydrogel and Preliminary Study of Its Drug Release Behavior

Abstract

The study describes the in situ formation of magnetite nanoparticles within a swollen polyacrylamide hydrogel. The average diameter of nanoparticles, as determined by TEM analysis, was found to be nearly 12.5 nm. In XRD analysis the characteristic peaks, observed at d = 3.07, 2.78, 2.64, 2.53, 2.32 and 2.03, also confirmed the formation of magnetite within the polymer network. The percent swelling of magnetite-loaded gel in physiological fluid was observed to decrease with increasing amount of magnetite in the gel. Moreover, the percent swelling increased from 140 to 254% as the strength of the applied magnetic field increased from 500 to 2500 Oe. Finally, the model drug, vitamin B₂, loaded magnetic gels showed relatively slower release in the presence of an applied magnetic field.

Keywords:

• MAGNETITE
• HYDROGELS
• VITAMIN B2
• SWELLING
• ORAL DELIVERY