ZnO NPs incorporated gelatin grafted polyacrylamide hydrogel nanocomposite for controlled release of ciprofloxacin

Hydrogel nanocomposites are hydrogels which are equipped with nanomaterial within their polymeric framework. They exhibit superior strength and elasticity compared to conventional hydrogels. The present work focuses to develop a new gelatin based hydrogel nanocomposite by embedding zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) within gelatin-polyacrylamide hydrogel, for the controlled release of ciprofloxacin (CFX). The synthesized ZnO NPs, gelatin polyacrylamide hydrogel (GAm) and hydrogel nanocomposite (GAmZ) have been characterized using various techniques. The swelling and in vitro CFX release studies revealed that incorporation of ZnO NPs in the hydrogel matrix has not only improved the swelling characteristics and thermal stability of the hydrogel matrix but also exhibited more controlled and pH dependent release of CFX. The drug release kinetic study has revealed that the system exhibited zero order kinetics and followed the Super case II transport mechanism for CFX release.