Synthesis and physicochemical analysis of interpenetrating networks containing modified gelatin and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate.

The interrelated effects of gelatin modification, content, and poly(ethylene glycol) molecular weight on the melting temperature, surface hydrophilicity, tensile properties, swelling/degradation, and drug-release kinetics of a novel interpenetrating network (IPN) system containing gelatin and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate were evaluated. Gelatin content had a large effect on the IPN melting temperature and Delta H. Modifying gelatin with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and/or monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) monoacetate ester as well as increasing poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate molecular weight increased the surface hydrophilicity. Increasing the gelatin weight percent increased the IPN elasticity at room temperature. When buffer and elevated temperature were present in the testing environment, the elasticity of all IPNs tested decreased. IPNs showed an enhanced elasticity and strength when compared with glutaraldehyde-fixed gelatin hydrogels. The extent of IPN swelling and degradation was increased by increasing the gelatin content or by modifying gelatin. The time to complete sample degradation was longer for IPNs when compared with gelatin crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Modifications to the IPN system increased the maximum percent of chlorhexidine digluconate released from the IPNs. The rate of complete drug release was slower from IPNs than from glutaraldehyde-fixed gelatin matrices. A wide range of IPN physicochemical properties was obtained through formulation changes and chemical modifications. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 67A: 224-234, 2003