PH-sensitive bionanocomposite hydrogel beads based on carboxymethyl cellulose/ZnO nanoparticle as drug carrier

Abstract

The present work explains the preparation of new pH-sensitive bionanocomposite beads based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and ZnO nanoparticles for use as controlled release drug delivery systems. Fe³⁺ ion as physical crosslinking agent was used to prepare ionic cross-linked bionanocomposite hydrogel beads. Propranolol hydrochloride (PPN) has been chosen as a model drug. Characterization of the pH-sensitive bionanocomposite beads resulting from incorporation of different content of ZnO nanoparticles into CMC matric was carried out using different experimental techniques: XRD, FT-IR, TGA, SEM and EDX. Propranolol incorporation efficiency in beads was determined by UV-vis spectroscopy and was found to be high. Moreover, the swelling and drug release properties of the bionanocomposite hydrogels were investigated. The prepared bionanocomposite beads showed a pH sensitive swelling behavior with maximum water absorbing at pH 7.4. Also, it was found that the swelling ratio of ZnO/CMC hydrogels in different aqueous solutions was rather higher in comparison with its neat hydrogel. In vitro drug release test was carried out to prove the effectiveness of this novel type of bionanocomposite hydrogel beads as a controlled drug delivery system. A more sustained and controlled drug releases were observed for ZnONPs containing NaCMC beads, which increased by the increase in ZnONPs content.

Keywords: Carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel; Drug carrier; ZnO nanoparticles; pH-sensitive.