Preparation and Characterization of PVA-NaAlg Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) Hydrogel for Controlled Delivery of Carbidopa

Polymeric drug delivery systems are new developed technology. They can be used to support patient’s compliance. They can help to maintain uniform drug levels and increase the safety margin for high-potency drugs. Then, they decrease the number of daily doses.

Thus, in this study, Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA)-Sodium alginate (NaAlg) interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels were prepared by using Glutaraldehyde as a crosslinked. The model drug (Carbidopa) was delivered by using emulsification / solvent-evaporation method. Carbidopa was successfully loaded into PVA-NaAlg IPN hydrogels. The prepared IPN hydrogels were characterized by Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy using (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effects of different process parameters, like degree of swelling and In vitro drug releasing of IPN hydrogel in different phosphate buffer solutions pH (7.1 and 3.9) were studied. The models of kinetics of releasing drug were investigated by using different types of mechanisms (Zero-order, First order, Higuchi’s model and Hixson-Crowell model).