Cold atmospheric plasma surface nanoengineered carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels as oral ibuprofen carriers

Abstract

Smart hydrogels comprising polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethyl cellulose have been fabricated using a green crosslinker tetraethyl orthosilicate. The hydrogels were subjected to cold atmospheric plasma-treatment using pure Ar, pure NH3 and a mixture of the two. Enhanced surface wettability was witnessed post-plasma treatment; irrespective of the plasma gas employed. An insignificant surface ageing of the hydrogels was marked upon exposure to air for 10 days. AFM analyses revealed the surface topographical changes at the nano level while the bulk attributes remained unaffected. The hydrogels displayed smart swelling features. The release of ibuprofen from the hydrogels in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids affirmed their potential towards oral colon-targeted drug delivery. The preliminary kinetics of drug release indicated the anomalous nature of drug transport mechanism. More so, drug release from plasma-treated hydrogels were predominantly governed by diffusion process rather than polymer chain relaxational process. The hydrogels demonstrated good biodegradability and could be efficaciously utilized as potential oral drug delivery candidates.