Green synthesis, characterization and drug delivery applications of a novel silver/carboxymethylcellulose - poly(acrylamide) hydrogel nanocomposite

•Synthesis of polymeric silver hydrogel nanocomposite(SHN) in eco-friendly manner.•SEM and TEM images showed 10-40 nm size of silver nanoparticle in hydrogel.•Swelling studies of SHN at different pH solutions at different time intervals.•Drastic variations noticed in swelling capacity of SHN in pH - 2 and pH - 8 solutions.•Drug loaded SHN released the drug in pH-8 solution but not much in pH - 2 solution.

Biodegradable polymeric hydrogels are a unique class of macromolecular networks that can hold a large fraction of an aqueous solvent within their structures. They are particularly suitable for biomedical applications including controlled drug delivery, because of their ability to stimulate biological tissues. Many hydrogel-based networks have been designed and fabricated to meet the needs of pharmaceutical and medical fields. The investigation deals with the environment friendly synthesis of biodegradable semi interpenetrating hydrogel networks based on cross-linked poly(acrylamide) through an optimized rapid redox solution polymerization with N, N′Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) in presence of Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC).The silver nanoparticles within hydrogel networks as nano reactors have been prepared by green synthesis via insitu reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) using Azadirachta Indica (Neem) plant extract under atmospheric conditions. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterised by FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. The thermal properties of the nanocomposite was analyzed by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The pH response and drug release profile of the synthesised biodegradable Silver-Hydrogel nanocomposite was investigated. Further, it was observed that physicochemical interaction between the polymeric nanocomposites and drug influences the degree of matrix swelling and therefore, its porosity and diffusion release process.