Submicron Particles of Double Network Alginate/Polyacrylamide Hydrogels for Drug Delivery of 5-Fluorouracil

The purpose of this study was to prepare a Double Network (DN) hydrogel made with sodium-alginate (Na-alg) natural polysaccharide and polyacrylamide (PAM) chains that target control release of anticancer drug. To this aim, the entitled submicron particles of double network hydrogels exhibit exceptional properties. A two-step strategy was used to obtain alginate/PAM hydrogels crosslinked by Ca2+ cations and N, Nʼ-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as different types of crosslinker. Particles of DN alginate / PAM were employed for entrapping and releasing the model drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as an anticancer drug. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ThermoGravimetric Analysis (TGA), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), swelling properties, drug entrapment efficiency, and drug release studies were also done. The particles showed porous structure, good swelling ability, and aqueous dispersibility with a size in the range of 280 nm. The resulting hydrogel was subsequently loaded with 5-FU and released patterns carried in 7.4 pH and 5.8 pH at a temperature of 37 ºC. The controlled drug release behavior was noticed and the finding of the study suggested that the alginate/PAM double network hydrogel is a promising carrier for 5-FU delivery.