Formation of sterculia polysaccharide networks by gamma rays induced graft copolymerization for biomedical applications

In the present study radiation induced graft-copolymerization of sterculia gum–PVA has been carried out to develop the hydrogels meant for drug delivery formulations. The polymers have been characterized with scanning electron micrography (SEM), energy dispersion X-ray analysis (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and swelling studies. The swelling of hydrogel and release of drug from the hydrogels have been carried out in solution of different pH to determine the swelling and drug release mechanism. The sterculia-cl-poly(VA) hydrogels were synthesized by varying the total radiation dose from 8.42 kGy to 50.54 kGy during polymerization reaction. The values of diffusion exponent ‘n’ indicate that the swelling and release of drug from the hydrogels followed non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. In this mechanism, the rate of drug diffusion from the polymer matrix and rate of polymer chain relaxation are comparable.