Swelling and Drug Release Properties of Starch Based Copolymer Hydrogel Prepared By Ionizing Radiation

ph-sensitive hydrogels composed of starch /acrylic acid were prepared by means of gamma-radiation induced graft copolymerization and crosslinking. The effects of the preparation conditions such as the feed solution concentration and composition and irradiation dose on the gelation process of the synthesized copolymer were investigated. The effects of ph and ionic strength on the equilibrium of swelling for the prepared hydrogels were studied. The swelling behavior of the starch/acrylic acid copolymer hydrogels was examined by studying the effect of the hydrogel composition on the time- and ph-dependent swelling. In order to estimate the ability of the prepared copolymer to be used as a colon-specific drug carrier, the release of ketoprofen was monitored as a function of time at ph 1 and ph 7