Magnetically Responsive Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Controlled Release of Ciprofloxacin

Despite the huge work concerning the applicability of polymeric hydrogels in the field of drug release, it is still a promising and interesting area for more improvements and trials for preparing newly designed drug delivery systems. In this study, acrylamide and hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymer hydrogels were prepared with the aid of gamma radiation, and the P(AAM/HEMA) nanocomposite hydrogels were obtained by in situ absorption and reduction method of iron salts and silver nitrates (AgNO3) to form P(AAM/HEMA)-Fe3O4 and P(AAM/HEMA)-Ag nanocomposites. The prepared hydrogels and the formed nanoparticles were studied by various techniques; FT-IR, TEM, SEM, and the gel content and swelling behavior were evaluated. FT-IR confirmed the high interaction, which resulted in the successful formation of the AAm/HEMA copolymer hydrogel. TEM provides a good evaluation of the size of the formed Fe3O4 and Ag NPs  to be 12 and 8.5 nm respectively. The prepared hydrogels and nanocomposite hydrogels were examined as drug delivery systems for Ciprofloxacin HCl as a model drug. The results showed that PAM/HEMA-Fe3O4 nanocomposite gave the suitable load and release behavior towards Ciprofloxacin HCl.