K. S. V. Krishna Rao

Novel thermo/pH sensitive nanogels composed from poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) for controlled release of an anticancer drug

A series of novel nanogels (NGs) with both pH and thermoresponsive properties were synthesised by free radical emulsion polymerisation of N-vinyl caprolactam (VCL) and acrylamidoglycolic acid (AGA). 5-Flurouracil, an anti cancer drug, was successfully loaded into these nanogels via equilibrium swelling method. The encapsulation efficiency of 5-FU was found up to 61%. Here we present the novel potential drug delivery system showing both pH and temperature release of 5-FU. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) examined the structure and morphology of the NGs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicates the diameter of the NGs to be about 50 nm. The size distribution of NGs was investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS), the average diameter and polydispersity is 57 nm and 0.194. Interestingly, the in vitro release studies of 5-FU demonstrated the dual nature (pH and temperature) of NGs. The cumulative release data were analysed using an emperical equation to compute the diffusion exponent (n); whose values suggest Fickian diffusion.

Curcumin encapsulated pH sensitive gelatin based interpenetrating polymeric network nanogels for anti cancer drug delivery.

Interpenetrating polymeric network nanogels (IPN-NGs) composed of natural gelatin biological protein macromolecules and poly(acrylamidoglycolic acid) were produced by simple free radical emulsion polymerization. The developed IPN-NGs were characterized by Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy to confirm the formation of NGs. The hydrophobic curcumin drug was loaded successfully into these NGs using an in-situ method. The curcumin-encapsulated NGs were well dispersed in aqueous solutions and showed good bioavailability. Curcumin was dispersed molecularly in the IPN-NGs, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The NGs exhibited pH sensitive properties according to dynamic light scattering and the zeta size potentials. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the NGs to be spherical, approximately 100nm in size. The encapsulation efficiency of these IPN-NGs drug formulations ranged from 42 to 48%. In addition, the release of curcumin from the NGs was examined in phosphate buffer medium. The cytotoxicity of the IPN-NGs was studied using in vitro cultures of fibroblasts and a colorectal cancer cell line. The results suggest that the newly developed pH sensitive gelatin-poly(acrylamidoglycolic acid)-curcumin NGs can be applied for colorectal cancer drug delivery applications.

Synthesis and Characterization of pH Sensitive Poly (Hydroxy Ethyl Methacrylate-co-acrylamidoglycolic Acid) Based Hydrogels for Controlled Release Studies of 5-Fluorouracil

Hydrogels were prepared from 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate and acrylamidoglycolic acid using N,N’-methylene bis acrylamide as a crosslinking agent in presence of potassium persulfate initiator. The average molecular mass between crosslinks (M c) and polymer-solvent interaction parameter of hydrogels were determined from equilibrium swelling values. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of hydrogels shows the confirmation of the formation of co-polymeric hydrogels. Scanning electron microscopy of hydrogels shows the porous network structure. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction were performed to understand the crystalline nature of hydrogel and drug after encapsulation in to hydrogels. In vitro release studies indicated the release of 5-Fluorouracil for more than 12 h.

Synthesis of alginate based silver nanocomposite hydrogels for biomedical applications

Sodium alginate and poly(acrylamide-co-N-vinylcaprolactam-co-acrylamidoglycolic acid) based dual responsive semi-IPN hydrogels (SA-PAVA) were successfully synthesized by free radical redox polymerization. N, N′-Methylene-bis-acrylamide was used as a crosslinker and 5-fluorouracil, an anti-cancer drug, was loaded onto these semi-IPN hydrogels via equilibrium swelling method. The hydrogels were also used as templates for the production of silver nanoparticles by using NaBH4 as reducing agent. In order to understand the polymer-drug interactions, pristine, as well as drug loaded, SA-PAVA hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The swelling behavior of the hydrogel was investigated in distilled water under various pH and temperature conditions. In vitro release of 5-fluorouracil from these SA-PAVA hydrogels was carried out in gastro-intestinal fluids different temperatures. The SA-PAVA hydrogel/silver nanocomposites showed excellent anti-bacterial activity towards Escherichia coli and Bacilli.

Biodegradable sodium alginate-based semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels for antibacterial application

A series of biodegradable, semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels were synthesized from a combination of carbohydrate polymer and sodium alginate (NaAlg) with acrylamide and dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate, and crosslinked with N,N-methylenebisacrylamide via radical redox polymerization. The cytocompatibility of the hydrogels with respect to their monomers and semi-IPN hydrogels was evaluated in vitro using cultures of mouse fibroblast cell lines. This study allowed the entrapment of silver nanoparticles (NPs) into semi-IPN hydrogel networks by the in situ reduction of Ag(+) ions using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed the formation of silver NPs in the semi-IPN hydrogel matrix. The formation of silver NPs was also confirmed from a themogravimetric analysis weight loss difference between hydrogel and silver nanocomposite as 32%. The morphology and structure of the AgNPs present in the hydrogel networks were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy revealed silver NPs with a size of ∼5 nm. The silver nanocomposite hydrogel exhibited good antibacterial activity against both gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. These results suggest that the hydrogel can be applied as wound dressings and for water purification purposes.

Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Polymer Systems Doped with Rare-Earth Metal Ions and Their Complexes

Abstract There has been an increased attention to explore the possibility of using polymer materials with rare-earth (RE) metal ions and their complexes as potential optical materials due to their capability of exhibiting novel and unusual properties. The fluorescence characteristics of polymer systems doped with RE metal ions and/or their complexes were analyzed and the effects of the doping metal ion/metal complexes as well as nature of the material were discussed. Electron transitions of REs can be manipulated by efficient ligand designs and proper doping into the polymer matrix. Emphasis was especially focused on the accommodation of the metal ion/metal complex in polymer matrix as well as its role in fluorescence. The photochemistry of the fluorescent polymer matrices with RE complexes is expected to open up frontier fields that lie between photophysics and materials science. Recent developments on a new aspect of these technologies related to the fluorescence dynamics in polymer analysis will also be discussed in this present review.

Stimuli Responsive Poly(Vinyl Caprolactam) Gels for Biomedical Applications

Poly(vinyl caprolactam) (PNVCL) is one of the most important thermoresponsive polymers because it is similar to poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide). PNVCL precipitates from aqueous solutions in a physiological temperature range (32–34 °C). The use of PNVCL instead of PNIPAM is considered advantageous because of the assumed lower toxicity of PNVCL. PNVCL copolymer gels are sensitive to external stimuli, such as temperature and pH; which gives them a wide range of biomedical applications and consequently attracts considerable scientific interest. This review focuses on the recent studies on PNVCL-based stimuli responsive three dimensional hydrogels (macro, micro, and nano) for biomedical applications. This review also covers the future outlooks of PNVCL-based gels for biomedical applications, particularly in the drug delivery field.

Synthesis and Characterization of Biopolymeric Blend Membranes Based on Sodium Alginate for the Pervaporation Dehydration of Isopropanol/Water Mixtures

Abstract Synthesized graft copolymers of hydroxyethylcellulose and acrylamide (HEC‐g‐AAm) were prepared by solution polymerization method. The grafting reaction was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The graft copolymers were blended in different ratios with sodium alginate (NaAlg), and the membranes were prepared by the solution casting method. The resulted membranes were then crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) in acetone‐water medium. Swelling experiments were performed on the blend membranes in water‐isopropanol mixtures at 30°C. Pervaporation experiments were performed at 30°C for the feed mixtures ranging from 10–50 wt.% of water in water‐isopropanol mixtures. Flux and selectivity of the membranes increased with an increasing amount of HEC‐g‐AAm copolymers in the blend membrane. The membrane NaAlg/HEC‐g‐AAm‐30 appears to have a good potential for dehydrating 10 wt.% water with a high selectivity of 2036 and a substantial water flux of 1.036 kg/m2 · h. Flux increased with increasing amount of water in the feed, but selectivity decreased considerably.

Synthesis, characterization, and metal uptake capacity of a new polyaniline and poly(acrylic acid) grafted sodium alginate/gelatin adsorbent

AbstractThe present work reports the development of new (sodium alginate-gelatin (SAG))-g-poly(acrylic acid)/polyaniline (SAPAPN) from sodium alginate/gelatin blend by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde, followed by grafting with poly(acrylic acid) and polyaniline by free radical polymerization using ammonium persulfate. The structure, thermal stability, and morphology of SAPAPN adsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy, and results were consistent with the expected structures. The influence of various experimental conditions like pH, time, and initial feed concentrations on the uptake of metal ions like Cu2+, Ni2+ by SAPAPN adsorbent was tested. It was seen that the adsorption equilibrium data could be fitted to the Langmuir isotherm. Desorption studies were performed in acid media and EDTA, to examine whether the SAPAPN adsorbent can be recycled for the metal ion removal. The results showed that with SAPAPN adsorb...

Phosphate crosslinked pectin based dual responsive hydrogel networks and nanocomposites: Development, swelling dynamics and drug release characteristics

Potential dual responsive hydrogel networks (PPAD) are fabricated from pectin, poly((2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) and phosphate crosslinker bis[2-methacryloyloxy] ethyl phosphate (BMEP) by a simple free radical polymerization. These hydrogel networks are successfully utilized for encapsulation of an anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and also employed as versatile platforms for production of silver nanoparticles. Fabricated hydrogel networks and silver nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR, SEM, EDX, TEM, DLS, DSC, TGA and XRD. Different polymer network parameters such as MC¯, χ, ξ and υe and diffusion constant (D) were evaluated to assess the drug release profile. The 5FU loaded PPAD hydrogels were used to perform in vitro release studies in both gastric and intestinal conditions of GIT (pH 1.2 & pH 7.4) at two different temperatures (25 and 37°C). On the other hand various kinetic models (zero, first, Higuchi & Koresmeyer-Peppas) have also been employed to fit drug release profile. In addition, the antibacterial activity of PPAD silver nanocomposites were tested against four bacterial species Escherichia coli (-ve), Klebsiella pneumoniae (-ve), Bacillus cereus (+ve) and Staphylococcus aereus (+ve) using zone of inhibition test.