PROPERTIES OF A RESPONSIVE HYDROGELS BASED ON PROTEIN FOR ORAL DELIVERY OF DRUGS

Abstract

In this study, to following synthesis of the hydrogels via graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto animal’s protein backbones, loading and releasing drug was investigated. In vitro drug release studies in different buffer solutions showed that the most important parameter affecting the drug-release behavior of hydrogels is the pH of the solution. The release rate of acyclovir from hydrogel at pH 7.4 was faster than that at pH 1.2 due to the shrinkage of the hydrogel at pH 1.2.