Encapsulation of bovine serum albumin within β-cyclodextrin/gelatin-based polymeric hydrogel for controlled protein drug release

Novel biodegradable pH-responsive polymeric hydrogels based on β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and gelatin (G) were prepared for controlled protein drug delivery studies. The polymeric hydrogels, G-g-poly(GMA) were obtained by grafting copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate monomer (GMA) onto gelatin in presence of ammonium ceric nitrate (CAN) as initiator. Immobilization of β-CD onto G-g-poly(GMA) hydrogel was then carried out. The prepared polymeric hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), two dimension X-ray diffraction pattern (2D-XRD) and transmitting electron microscope (TEM). A model protein drug, bovine serum albumin (BSA), was encapsulated in these hydrogels and the in vitro release profiles were established separately in both enzyme-free simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF and SIF, respectively).