SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY[N-VINYL-2-PYRROLIDONE-POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL DIACRYLATE] COPOLYMERIC HYDROGELS FOR DRUG-DELIVERY

Novel polymeric biodegradable and biocompatible copolymeric hydrogels based on N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) and polyethylene glycol diacrylat e (PAC) were designed and synthesized. PAC macromonomer was synthesize d by a modified procedure and characterized. Poly[N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidon e-polyethylene glycol diacrylate] (Poly[NVP-PAC]) hydrogels were synth esized by varying the concentration of PAC. Azobisisobutyronitrile (AI BN) was used as the free radical initiator and N,N-1-methylene bis(acr yl-amide) (BIS) was employed as the crosslinking agent. These hydrogel s were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. Fourier tran sform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-LR) confirms the formation of copolyme r. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves obtained were continuous in dicating the formation of copolymer. The glass transition temperature (T-g) of the copolymer was measured using differential scanning calori metry (DSC). The equilibrium swelling measurements were carried out in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF & SIF). These swelling s tudies indicated that these gels had a higher sorption capacity in SIF when compared to that in SGF. 5-Fuorouracil (5-FU), an anti-cancer dr ug was entrapped in these hydrogels and the in-vitro release profiles were established in a sequential manner in SGF and SIF. About 50-56% o f the drug entrapped was released in a period of 10 days.