SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF WATER-SWELLABLE ALPHA,BETA-POLYASPARTHYDRAZIDE DERIVATIVES .2. HYDROGELS AT LOW CROSS-LINKING DEGREE AS POTENTIAL SYSTEMS FOR ANTICANCER DRUG-RELEASE

alpha, beta-polyasparthydrazide (PAHy) was crosslinked by glutaraldehy de to form water-swellable materials possessing a three-dimensional mo lecular network. Different crosslinking degrees were prepared varying glutaraldehyde/PAHy ratio and samples containing 5-fluorouracil were o btained by incorporating the drug into the polymer networks during the crosslinking reaction. All samples were characterized by swelling tes ts, thermal, x-ray and SEM analysis. Their microstructure was observed through scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, for samples contai ning the anticancer drug, in vitro release studies were performed in p H 7.4 buffer solution.