Intelligent superabsorbents based on a xanthan gum/poly (acrylic acid) semi-interpenetrating polymer network for application in drug delivery systems

In the present study, semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) were synthesized based on crosslinked acrylic acid (AA)/xanthan gum (XG) biopolymer in the presence of N, N′-hexane-1, 6-dilbisprop-2-enamide (MS) or 1,4-butandioldimethacrylate (BDOD) as the cross-linking agent. MS is a novel acrylic-urethane diene monomer prepared through the condensation reaction between AA and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses were used to study the morphology, structure and thermal stability of MS and semi-IPNs. The effect of crosslinking agent type on different behaviors such as morphology, stability, swelling, and water-retention capabilities of the synthesized hydrogels were investigated. XG-PAA semi-IPNs exhibited a very high adsorption potential and stability. Hydrogel biocompatibility was confirmed by the outcomes of MTT assay and cell staining. We recommend XG-PAA semi-IPNs as an environmentally benign and readily non-toxic material with an excellent adsorption capacity for application in drug delivery systems, wound healing and dye removal. [Display omitted] •Eco-friendly semi-interpenetrating polymer networks were synthesized based crosslinked acrylic acid onto xanthan gum.•N, N′-hexane-1, 6-dilbisprop-2-enamide (MS) and 1,4-butandioldimethacrylate (BDOD) used as a cross-linking agent.•Hydrogels cross-linked by MS had more and large porosity due to the reaction of residual groups of isocyanate.•By increasing the amount of cross-linker in both cases, the amount of swelling ratio decreased.•The synthesized hydrogels have intelligent swelling ratio at different pH levels.