pH-sensitive IPN hydrogel based on poly (aspartic acid) and poly (vinyl alcohol) for controlled release

Various pH-sensitive sequential interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels were prepared by introducing poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel into Poly (aspartic acid) (PASP) hydrogel by freeze-thawing treatment to obtain a novel drug delivery system to the intestine. The structure and the morphologies of the prepared hydrogels were studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal behavior and crystallinity of the hydrogels were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Their pH-sensitive properties moreover were studied and the results revealed that both PASP hydrogel and IPN hydrogels exhibited excellent pH-sensitivity. Furthermore, the controlled drug release properties of the hydrogels were also evaluated and results indicated that by increasing the PVA fraction in the IPN hydrogel, the release of Naproxen sodium was improved. These results show that the IPN hydrogels could be a suitable carrier for site-specific drug delivery in the intestine.