In vitro release studies of vitamin B12 from poly N-vinyl pyrrolidone /starch hydrogels grafted with acrylic acid synthesized by gamma radiation

Co-polymeric hydrogels containing N-vinyl pyrrolidone and starch grafted with acrylic acid were synthesized by gamma radiation. Their gel contents, grafting process and swelling were evaluated. The gels were also characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis. The gel content found to be increase with increasing the irradiation dose up to 50 kGy then decrease. The grafting percent increase by increasing the percentage of acrylic acid in the grafted hydrogels. The thermal stability and the rate of the thermal decomposition showed to be changed according to the different composition of the hydrogels. It also showed a decrease in the maximum rate of the thermal decomposition by the increasing of the irradiation dose from 20 to 30 kGy and increases by increasing the irradiation dose from 30 to 70 kGy. The hydrogels loaded with vitamin B12 as drug model, demonstrated a decrease release in acidic medium than the neutral one