Synthesis of pH-Sensitive Cross-Linked Basil Seed Gum/Acrylic Acid Hydrogels by Free Radical Copolymerization Technique for Sustained Delivery of Captopril

The pH-sensitive polymeric matrix of basil seed gum (BSG), with two different monomers, such as acrylic acid (AA) and N, N-Methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA), was selected to use in hydrogels preparation through a free radical copolymerization technique using potassium per sulfate (KPS) as a cross linker. BSG, AA and MBA were used in multiple ratios to investigate the polymer, monomer and initiator effects on swelling properties and release pattern of captopril. Characterization of formulated hydrogels was done by FTIR, DSC/TGA, XRD and SEM techniques to confirm the stability. The hydrogels were subjected to a variety of tests, including dynamic swelling investigations, drug loading, in vitro drug release, sol–gel analyses and rheological studies. FTIR analysis confirmed that after the polymeric reaction of BSG with the AA monomer, AA chains grafted onto the backbone of BSG. The SEM micrographs illustrated an irregular, rough, and porous form of surface. Gel content was increased by increasing the contents of polymeric gum (BSG) with monomers (AA and MBA). Acidic and basic pH effects highlighted the difference between the swelling properties with BSG and AA on increasing concentration. Kinetic modelling suggested that Korsmeyer Peppas model release pattern was followed by the drug with the non-Fickian diffusion mechanism.