Novel hydrogel system from scleroglucan: synthesis and characterization

New hydrogels obtained by a crosslinking reaction between the polycarboxyla ted derivative of scleroglucan (sclerox) and 1,6-hexanedibromide have been prepared and characterized. Different ratios between the alkane dihalide an d sclerox yielded products with appreciably different properties, Water upt ake by the hydrogel with a low degree of crosslinking was remarkably affect ed by ionic strength, The diffusion of a model molecule (theophylline) thro ugh the swelled crosslinked polymers was studied and the theoretical analys is leading to the calculation of permeability coefficients in different env ironmental conditions is reported. Tablets prepared with one of the new hyd rogels behaved as swellable monolithic systems suitable for sustained drug release. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.