Preparation of temperature‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)/β‐cyclodextrin‐grafted polyethylenimine hydrogels for drug delivery

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, novel thermally sensitive semi‐interpenetrating polymeric network hydrogels composed of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and β‐cyclodextrin‐grafted polyethylenimine were prepared by radical polymerization. Compared to normal PNIPAAm hydrogels, the semi‐interpenetrating network hydrogels had a higher swelling ratio at room temperature and exhibited faster shrinking kinetics when the temperature was elevated to above the lower critical solution temperature. Propranolol as a model drug was loaded into the gels, and the release results show that compared to that of the normal PNIPAAm hydrogel, the release time of propranolol from the cyclodextrin‐containing gel was prolonged. These improved drug‐release properties may have been due to the formation of inclusion complexes between the drug molecules and cyclodextrin groups. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008