Characterization and drug release kinetics of polyacrylamide/sodium alginate blend hydrogels synthesized by gamma irradiation

Hydrogels based on polyacrylamide (PAM) and sodium alginate (AG) were fabricated via gamma irradiation. The structure–property behavior of PAM/AG hydrogels was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, and water absorption measurements. The PAM/AG hydrogels were applied as drug delivery taking chlortetracycline and ketoprofen as drug models. In addition, the water diffusion and drug release kinetics were investigated by applying the Fick's law, in which the mechanism for water diffusion and drug release was suggested. The results clarified the pH-sensitivity of the PAM/AG blend hydrogels towards the drug-release medium in the case of both drugs. Graphical abstract