Poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid)-grafted nanocellulose/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite for thein vitrogastrointestinal release of amoxicillin

Superabsorbent polymer composites (SAPCs) are very promising and versatile materials for biomedical applications. This study concentrates on the development of novel cellulose-based SAPC, Poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide-co−2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid)-grafted nanocellulose/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite, P(AA-co-AAm-co-AMPS)-g-NC/PVA, as a potential drug delivery vehicle. Amoxicillin was selected as a model drug, which is used for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori induced peptic and duodenal ulcers. P(AA-co-AAm-co-AMPS)-g-NC/PVA was synthesized by graft copolymerization reaction, and FTIR, XRD, SEM, and DLS analyses were performed for its characterization. Equilibrium swelling studies were conducted to evaluate the stimuli-response behavior of the SAPC and found that equilibrium swelling was dependent on pH, contact time, temperature, ionic strength, concentration of crosslinker and PVA. Maximum drug encapsulation efficiency was found out by using different concentrations of amoxicillin. Drug release studies were carried out at simulated gastric and intestinal fluids and the release % was observed as maximum in intestinal fluids within 4 h. The drug release kinetics was investigated using Peppas' potential equation and follows non-Fickian mechanism at pH 7.4. Thus, the drug release experiments indicate that P(AA-co-AAm-co-AMPS)-g-NC/PVA would be a fascinating vehicle for the in vitro administration of amoxicillin into the gastrointestinal tract. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40699.