Design of psyllium–PVA–acrylic acid based novel hydrogels for use in antibiotic drug delivery

In order to exploit the potential of gel forming medicinally important polysaccharide, we have developed psyllium based hydrogels through graft copolymerization. The optimum conditions for the synthesis of psyllium–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–poly(acrylic acid) blended hydrogels have been evaluated and their characterization has been carried out by SEMs, FTIR and swelling studies. The optimum conditions for the synthesis of hydrogels have been obtained as 1% (v/v) acrylic acid, 2% (w/v) PVA and 1 g of psyllium. The use of very small amount of these petroleum products has developed the low energy, cost effective, biodegradable and biocompatible material for potential biomedical applications. It is the novelty of the present finding. The release of model antibiotic drug tetracycline HCl from the hydrogels has been observed more in pH 2.2 buffer hence these hydrogels are suitable for peptic ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori. At the same time psyllium has also been reported to cure the ulcerative colitis. Hence, the present drug delivery system will have double potential to cure ulcer. The values of the diffusion exponent for the release of drug have been obtained as (0.774, 0.576 and 0.858) and gel characteristic constant have been (8.884 × 10−3, 24.149 × 10−3 and 3.989 × 10−3) respectively in pH 2.2 buffer, 7.4 buffer and distilled water. The release of the drug from the hydrogels occurred through non-Fickian diffusion mechanism.