Kinetics and controlled release of lidocaine from novel carrageenan and alginate-based blend hydrogels.

The controlled release of drug from drug carrier has been a point of concern for the researchers to ensure the bioavailability of drug with reduced side effects. The formulation in this study is based upon biopolymers; carrageenan (CG), sodium alginate (SA) and various molecular weights of polyethylene glycol (PEG), cross-linked with (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, APTES for the sustained release of model drug (lidocaine). The physicochemical properties of the formulated hydrogel blends include bonding pattern (using Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), swelling study, antimicrobial activity and morphology of hydrogel films was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The as-prepared hydrogels show an improved cell compatibility against 3T3 cell line as well as cell proliferation and kinetics of drug release showed that these hydrogels are potential for controlled release of lidocaine, a numbing agent. GAP 60 exhibited maximum swelling percent (910%) and was employed to load the drug. By using in vitro model, the drug release was studied in PBS solution. Non-Fickian and other kinetic models (Zero order, Higuchi, Hixson, Korsmeyer Peppas and Baker-Lonsdale) for diffusion were followed in results. The improved properties showed that the formulated hydrogels can easily be used for the sustain drug release studies.