Abstract
Hydrogels are promising drug delivery systems attributable to their unique characteristics such as high hydrophilicity, controllability, biocompatibility, and facile production routines. The aim of this research was the preparation of sodium alginate/acrylic acid (AAc) composite hydrogels conjugated to silver nanoparticles to deliver the cephalexin as a model antibiotic compound. The reduction of silver ions into silver nanoparticles as well as the stabilization of created nanoparticles ensued simultaneously with hydrogel backbone formulation during microwave irradiation and monomer cross-linking processes. The impact of AAc and silver ion concentrations and the radiation time of microwave were then investigated on the main characteristics of hydrogels. The results indicated that the hydrogels’ characteristics could be significantly predicted by studying all independent parameters through various second-order polynomial models. The multiple optimization analysis suggested that the prepared hydrogels using 7.8 g AAc and 1.5 g silver nitrate and 1 min microwave radiation could give the best hydrogels with the highest swelling degree, gel fraction, cephalexin absorption, and antibacterial activity. The morphology and either absorption or release kinetics of cephalexin by the optimum prepared hydrogels were also investigated. No significant differences between the experimental and predicted data confirmed the suitability of the suggested models.
Characterization and Release Kinetics of Metronidazole Loaded Silver Nanoparticles Prepared from <i>Carica papaya</i> Leaf Extract