A novel amphiphilic nano hydrogel using ketene based polyester with polyacrylamide for controlled drug delivery system.

A ketene based Low molecular weight polymer (LMKP) having ester functional group was prepared using glycine through surface initiated anionic polymerization. NMR, ATR-FTIR & SEC were used to characterize the LMKP. The LMKP and acrylamide (AAm) were co-polymerised in methyl ethyl ketone to yield semi-IPN nanohydrogels (NHG). Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was used as an initiator and N,N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinking agent. Formation of NHG was confirmed through frequency shift in LMKP and poly acrylamide (PAAm) in FTIR spectroscopy. Photon correlation spectroscopy reveals that the sizes of the NHG were in the range of 140-225 nm and Transmission Electron Micrograph (TEM) also confirms the nano dimension of NHG. Biocompatibility of the NHG was confirmed through the cytotoxicity analysis. The swelling and diffusion behaviour of NHG, prepared under various formulations, were evaluated. The swelling pattern of NHG was studied at different pH conditions. The drug delivery capacity of NHG was investigated using ciprofloxacin as a model drug. The drug release kinetics of NHG suggested their anomalous (non-fickian) behaviour.