Release and diffusion of sulfamethoxazole through acrylamide-based hydrogel

Two polymeric hydrogels (xerogels) containing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) -crosslinked polyacrylamide and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-crosslinked polya crylamide were loaded with the sulfamethoxazole drug and their swelling and drug-release dynamics were investigated at a fixed pH and at room temperat ure (27 degreesC). The effects of various factors such as the composition o f the xerogel, crosslinking density, and drug loading mere studied on the s welling and drug-release pattern of the xerogels. The kinetic parameters su ch as the diffusion exponent (n), diffusion constant (k), and diffusion coe fficient (D) were also evaluated and analyzed. The percent drug released by these xerogels was also compared to that by the crosslinked gelatin gels. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.