Studies on Preparation and Characterization of Blend Polymers for Hydrogels Synthesis and Use for Protein Release

Abstract

Carboxy methyl cellulose, pectin, chitosan or acrylic acid– poly (vinyl alcohol) blend hydrogels were prepared using Glutaraldehyde (GLU) as chemical or sodium hexameta phosphate (SHMP) as physical cross-linking agent. The prepared hydrogels have carried the advantage properties of both blend materials and can be used for loading and releasing of BSA protein. The degree of swelling of the prepared hydrogels was measured due to their different functional groups in different pHs of (pH4, pH7 and pH9) in addition to the electrolyte solution of 0.1 N NaCl. The blend hydrogels are characterized for their chemical structure using FT-IR. The XRD analysis was investigated for determination of the hydrogels crystallographic structure. The differential thermal analysis DTA and scanning electron microscope SEM were depended to study the thermal stability and surface morphology of the hydrogel respectively. The hydrogels were loaded with BSA protein model, and time of loading at (1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0) hrs were measured, beside the pH of the loading solution of ph4, pH6 and pH8 were considered and the BSA concentrations of (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) g/L have been investigated for maximum loading percentages %Lmax of BSA on the hydrogels. Finally the loaded BSA was released under different release conditions in 0.9% w/vNaCl solution and pH4, pH6 and pH8 were depended and the BSA was tested to release at 15, 25 and 40oC releasing medium temperatures.