In-situ synthesis of polyacrylate grafted carboxymethyl guargum–carbon nanotube membranes for potential application in controlled drug delivery

•Hydrophobic membranes developed from polysaccharide and functionalized MWCNT.•Composite membranes applied for transdermal delivery of diclofenac sodium.•At low filler contents high hydrophobicity maximizes drug encapsulation efficiency.

Sustainable hydrophobic membranes were prepared in-situ from the composites of poly (diethylene glycol dimethacrylate) grafted carboxymethyl guargum (CMG-g-PDEGDMA)/carboxy functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT). The composite membranes were applied for transdermal delivery of hydrophobic diclofenac sodium. The uniform dispersion of f-MWCNT resulted into stronger–matrix filler interaction, particularly at 1 wt.% f-MWCNT concentration. The membrane was most hydrophobic and least drug eluting. At higher f-MWCNT loading i.e. at 2 and 3 wt.% the membranes were less hydrophobic and faster drug eluting as a consequence of relatively poor matrix–filler interaction and copolymer wrapping. The most hydrophobic formulation (1 wt.%) had released 16.4% of the encapsulated drug, while the least (3 wt.%) had released 42% after 20 h study in a Franz diffusion cell under physiological condition.

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