Stimuli-Sensitive Poly(NIPA-co-APA) Hydrogels for the Controlled Release of Keterolac Tromethamine

The pH sensitive hydrogels composed of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and acryloyl phenylalanine (APA) wereprepared by redox polymerization using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. Anti-inflammatory and analgesicagent, Keterolac Tromethamine (KT), was loaded successfully into poly(NIPA-co-APA) copolymeric hydrogels by swellingequilibrium method. To understand the nature of drug in the polymeric matrix, the newly synthesized drug loaded poly(NIPAco-APA) copolymeric hydrogels were characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction(XRD) techniques. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique result indicates the spherical smooth surface of thehydrogels. The drug (KT) releasing nature of the poly(NIPA-co-APA) hydrogels was studied in pH 1.2 and 7.4. Effects of drugloading, crosslinking agent, pH and the ionic strength of the external medium on swelling of hydrogels were also investigated. KCI Citation Count: 0