Pectin-based Hydrogels Research Articles

Performance of lactase encapsulated in pectin-based hydrogels during lactose hydrolysis reactions

The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of lactase encapsulated in pectin-based hydrogels during lactose hydrolysis reactions. Pectin-based hydrogel and pectin-based composite hydrogel containing pine fiber were synthesized by chemical cross-linking. Lactase was encapsulated in both hydrogels by adsorption. Lactose hydrolysis experiments were conducted by immersing encapsulated lactase in standard lactose solutions, varying pH and temperature. The formed glucose concentrations were determined by UV–vis spectrophotometry, using an enzymatic-colorimetric method. The lactase encapsulation, catalytic activity, lactose hydrolysis and lactase release were affected by the drying of the hydrogel (oven or freeze-drying), pH and temperature variation of the aqueous lactose solution and pine fiber content in the polymer network. The encapsulation efficiencies of lyophilized hydrogels containing 0, 5 and 10% of pine fiber were 69.04 ± 1.19, 69.57 ± 0.78 and 71.10 ± 0.35%, respectively. Slightly lower values were found for air-dried hydrogels. The relative catalytic activities of lactase encapsulated in the hydrogels containing 0, 5 and 10% of pine fiber were, respectively, 52.85 ± 0.97, 56.26 ± 1.07 and 57.27 ± 1.18% (w/w) after three successive cycles of lactose hydrolysis in UHT-milk. Overall, pectin-based hydrogels are potential solid supports for preserving the lactase activity during lactose hydrolysis reactions.

Fabrication of self-healing pectin/chitosan hybrid hydrogel via Diels-Alder reactions for drug delivery with high swelling property, pH-responsiveness, and cytocompatibility

Self-healing hydrogels with pH-responsiveness could protect loaded drugs from being destroyed till it arrives to the target. The pectin-based hydrogel is a candidate due to the health benefit, anti-inflammation, antineoplastic activity, nontoxicity, and biospecific degradation, et al. However, the abundant existence of water-soluble branched heteropolysaccharide chains influenced its performance resulting in limitation of the potential. In the present study, we prepared a series of self-healing pectin/chitosan hydrogels via the Diels-Alder reaction. Moreover, pectin/chitosan composite hydrogel was prepared as a contrast. By comparison, it can be seen that the Diels-Alder reaction greatly improved the cross-linking density of hydrogels. The self-healing experiments showed excellent self-healing performance. In different swelling mediums, significant transformation in the swelling ratio was shown, indicating well-swelling property, pH- and thermo-responsiveness. The drug loading and release studies presented high loading efficiency and sustained release performance. The cytotoxicity assay that showed a high cell proliferation ratio manifested great cytocompatibility.

Influence of gelatin and collagen incorporation on peroxidase-mediated injectable pectin-based hydrogel and bioactivity of fibroblasts.

Pectin has recently attracted increasing attention for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Due to the lack of adhesion molecules in polysaccharides, phenolic hydroxyl conjugated gelatin was added to enzymatically-gellable peroxidase-modified pectin derivative and compared with phenolic hydroxyl -pectin/collagen. Both pectin and gelatin were modified by tyramine hydrochloride in the presence of EDC/NHS. The phenolic hydroxyl -pectin/phenolic hydroxyl -gelatin, phenolic hydroxyl-pectin/collagen, and phenolic hydroxyl -pectin hydrogels were prepared using horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogels were characterized by gelation time analysis. Morphology, enzymatic biodegradation, mechanical and swelling properties as well as water vapor transmission rate were also evaluated. Fibroblasts were cultured for 7 days, and the survival rate was evaluated using conventional MTT assay. Hydrogels composed of Ph-pectin/Ph-gelatin showed decreased biodegradation rate, and WVTR and further improved mechanical performance in comparison with other groups. Both phenolic hydroxyl -pectin/collagen and phenolic hydroxyl -pectin/phenolic hydroxyl -gelatin hydrogels exhibited porous structures. The hydrogels composed of collagen promoted cell survival rate 1.4 and 3.5 times compared to phenolic hydroxyl -gelatin and phenolic hydroxyl -pectin based hydrogels at the end of 7 days, respectively (p < 0.001). The study demonstrated the potential of enzymatically-gellable pectin-based hydrogels as cost-effective frameworks for use in tissue engineering applications.

Engineering luminescent pectin-based hydrogel for highly efficient multiple sensing

Luminescent hydrogels with sensing capabilities have attracted much interest in recent years, especially those responsive to stimuli, making such materials potential for various applications. Pectin is a high-molecular-weight carbohydrate polymer that has the ability to form hydrogel upon heating or mixing with divalent cations. However, intrinsic pectin gels are weak and lack of functionalities. In this study, lanthanide ions and silk fibroin derived carbon dots were incorporated into Pectin/PVA hydrogel (PPH) to form luminescent tough hydrogels. The luminescence of the hydrogel can be tuned by adjusting the ratio of blue emission carbon dots to Eu3+ ions (red emission) and Tb3+ ions (green emission). Such incorporation of emitters only slightly changed the mechanical properties of the tough hydrogel. Notably, the luminescent Pectin/PVA hydrogel (LPPH) showed chromic response to external stimuli, like pH and metal ions. By measuring the ratio of luminescent intensity at 473 nm and 617 nm (I473/I617), the pH response can be quantified in high sensitivity. In addition, the specific detection of Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions using the fabricated hydrogel were demonstrated, the mechanism was also proposed. The different chromic responses to Fe2+ and Fe3+ endow the luminescent tough Pectin/PVA hydrogel potential for multiple sensing applications.

High removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution by using a novel pectin-based hydrogel

ABSTRACT In this study, pectin/poly(methacrylic acid-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid) (pec/poly(MA-co-AMPS)) hydrogel was synthesised with free-radical polymerisation. The effect of the compound proportions within the pectin-based hydrogels on swelling behaviour was investigated. Confirmation of the chemical structure of the prepared hydrogel used FT-IR spectroscopy. Surface morphology assessment was performed with SEM. Cationic methylene blue (MB) dye was chosen to investigate adsorption studies using these anionic-character hydrogels. The adsorption conditions affecting performance of initial dye concentration, solution pH, adsorbent mass, contact duration and temperature were systematically investigated. Kinetics of MB adsorption abided by a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption isotherm for hydrogels was best described by the Langmuir isotherm model and it was found to have maximum MB adsorption capacity of 448.4 mg/g at 60 min duration. Thermodynamic investigation of the adsorption process linked to temperature found the adsorption process had random, spontaneous and endothermic favourability. In conclusion, pec/poly(MA-co-AMPS) hydrogel is accepted as a promising candidate to remove MB or cationic dyes with similar features from aqueous solutions.

Hydrolysis of lactose using β-D-galactosidase immobilized in pectin-based hydrogels: Modeling and optimization by factorial design

In this work, we studied the hydrolysis of lactose using β-d-galactosidase immobilized in pectin-based hydrogels and optimized the process using a central composite rotatable design and response surface methodology. The experimental conditions were established by optimizing the enzyme immobilization capacity of the hydrogels and glucose concentrations formed during the hydrolysis of lactose using the immobilized enzyme (dependent variables). Optimal temperature, initial enzyme concentration, and pH (independent variables) for immobilization in the hydrogel without pine fiber were 44.0 ± 1.0 °C, 7.0%, and 6.4, respectively. These values were approximately 35.0 ± 1.0 °C, 6.3%, and 5.6 for both composite hydrogels containing 5 and 10% pine fiber. The immobilization of β-d-galactosidase at optimum pH led to the absence of hydrolytic activity owing to enzyme overload, whereas higher glucose concentrations were found during the hydrolysis of lactose when β-d-galactosidase was immobilized at pH 4.0. Thus, the immobilization protocols led to β-d-galactosidase immobilized in the hydrogels with high catalytic capacity. In conclusion, the hydrolysis of lactose can be performed using β-d-galactosidase immobilized in pectin-based hydrogels for the production of low-lactose foods.

New pectin-based hydrogel containing imiquimod-loaded polymeric nanocapsules for melanoma treatment.

We developed a pectin-based hydrogel containing nanocapsules as a new strategy for melanoma treatment. Our first objective was to evaluate the nanoencapsulation effect of imiquimod on melanoma. Imiquimod-loaded polymeric nanocapsules (NCimiq) showed significant time-dependent decrease in cell viability after treatment at 3μmolL-1 (79% viable cells in 24h and 55% in 72h), which was not observed in cells treated with the solution of the drug (IMIQ) (99% viable cells in 24h and 91% in 72h). The second objective was to develop the hydrogel containing the drug-loaded nanocapsules (PEC-NCimiq). In vitro release study showed that 63% of imiquimod was released from the pectin-based hydrogel containing the drug (PEC-imiq) after 2h, while 60% of the drug was released from PEC-NCimiq after 8h. In the permeation study, 2.5μg of imiquimod permeated the skin within 8h after the initial contact of PEC-NCimiq, whereas only 2.1μg of drug permeated after 12h of contact when PEC-imiq was assayed. Pectin-based hydrogels enabled the drug penetration in all skin layers, especially the dermis (PEC-NCimiq = 6.8μg and PEC-imiq = 4.3μg). In the adhesion study, PEC-NCimiq showed the highest adhesiveness (42% removed from the skin) in comparison to PEC-imiq (71% removed from the skin). In conclusion, the nanoencapsulation provided a higher cytotoxic effect of imiquimod in SK-MEL-28, and the incorporation of the drug-loaded nanocapsules in pectin-based hydrogel showed higher adhesiveness and deeper penetration of the drug into the skin. Graphical abstract.

Synthesis and Properties of Chitosan- and Pectin-Based Hydrogels

Hydrogels have been prepared by mixing chitosan and pectin solutions, as well as solutions of their modified derivatives, in aqueous media at room temperature. The gels are obtained within a time period from several seconds to half an hour or more, depending on the process conditions. The hydrogels are formed due to both the covalent bonding between functional groups and the formation of interpolyelectrolyte complexes via the interaction between ammonium groups of chitosan and carboxylate groups of pectin. Conditions have been determined for the hydrogel formation throughout the solution volume without liquid phase separation. The swelling of lyophilized hydrogels has been studied as depending on the ionic strength and pH of aqueous media. The feasibility of prolonged drug release from the developed polymer matrix has been shown by the example of cytostatics, namely, mitomycin C and cisplatin.

Dual effect of procaine-loaded pectin hydrogels: pain management and in vitro wound healing

This study aims to develop procaine-loaded pectin hydrogels for both local anesthetic delivery and wound healing. We investigated the effects of initial drug concentration, pH of initial drug solution, and drying temperature of hydrogel on the drug release behavior of hydrogels. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy were used for their characterization. Their swelling percentage, drug loading, and drug release behaviors were determined. Toxic effects of selected hydrogels on the wound healing ability of PCS-201-012 human dermal fibroblast cells and wound dressing properties were also investigated. According to our results, the hydrogels did not affect cell migration. Initial drug concentration, pH of initial drug solution, and drying temperature of hydrogels are crucial on procaine release behavior of pectin-based hydrogels.

Fully physically crosslinked pectin-based hydrogel with high stretchability and toughness for biomedical application

Hydrogels derived from natural polymers have been extensively investigated in the biomedical field, while inherent brittleness and poor stability limit their applications. In this study, a tough pectin-Fe3+/poly (acrylamide-co-stearyl methacrylate) (P(AAm-co-SMA)) double physical crosslinking (DPC) network hydrogel is prepared using a three-step method. The first HPAAm network is formed via hydrophobic associations among the PSMA segment in P(AAm-co-SMA), and trivalent ions (Fe3+) crosslinked pectin network as the second network. Due to the reversibility of dual physical cross-linking structures, the pectin-Fe3+/HPAAm hydrogel exhibit excellent toughness (1.04–11.20 MJ m−3). In addition, the pectin-Fe3+/HPAAm DPC hydrogels have tunable mechanical properties (tensile strength: 0.97–1.61 MPa, elongation: 133–1346%, elastic modulus: 0.30–2.20 MPa) via adjusting the ratio of pectin network and HPAAm network. To explore their potential application in tissue engineering, ATDC5 chondrocytes were seeded on the prepared DPC hydrogels. Results suggest that the pectin-Fe3+/HPAAm DPC hydrogels can support the adhesion and proliferation of ATDC5, moreover, the ATDC5 cells can penetrate into the hydrogel. It is concluded that the prepared hydrogels exhibit potential application in the load-bearing tissue repair field.

Pinus residue/pectin-based composite hydrogels for the immobilization of β-D-galactosidase

The aim of this work was to synthesize pinus residue/pectin-based composite hydrogels for the immobilization of β-D-galactosidase. These hydrogels were synthesized via chemical crosslinking, and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, mechanical assays, X-ray diffraction, and swelling kinetics. The water absorption mechanism in the hydrogel networks occurs by non-Fickian transport. The β-D-galactosidase immobilization capacities of the hydrogels containing 0, 5 and 10% of pinus residue were respectively 242.08 ± 0.36, 181.27 ± 0.50 and 182.71 ± 0.36 mg enzyme per g dried hydrogel, at pH 4.0 and after 600 min. These values were 182.99 ± 0.41, 219.99 ± 0.47 and 218.56 ± 0.39 mg g−1, respectively, at pH 5.6. Pectin-based hydrogels demonstrated to be excellent solid supports for the immobilization of enzymes. β-D-Galactosidase immobilized in pectin-based hydrogels could be applied in the hydrolysis of lactose contained in either dairy foods or lactose-intolerant individuals.

Pectin-based hydrogels with adjustable properties for controlled delivery of nifedipine: development and optimization

Pectin-co-poly acrylic acid (Pec-co-poly (AA)) hydrogels are imperative and new type of chemically cross-linked hydrogels. A research was conducted to develop pH-sensitive, controlled release, and biocompatible hydrogels by free radical polymerization and scrutinize the suitability of Pec-co-poly (AA) hydrogels as drug carriers. Different formulations were designed using central composite model. N,N-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) was used as a cross-linker and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that hydrogels are thermally stable. Hydrogels have a porous structure, clearly expressed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results concede the grafting reaction of AA on pectin. Hydrogels were figured out for pH-responsive behaviour by dynamic and equilibrium swelling ratio at low and high pH. The effects of pectin and acrylic acid (AA) content on swelling were also studied and revealed an increasing trend in swelling with increasing concentration of either pectin or AA. Similarly, developed hydrogels were also evaluated for different modalities for drug loading and release employing nifedipine as model drug. Constructed models are found to be suitable prediction tools, with contour plots and response surface plots providing an easy tool for estimation of response nature over entire setting of variables. It is concluded that highly stable Pec-co-poly (AA) hydrogels are developed. These have potential to be used as carrier for controlled delivery of nifedipine.

Calcium-oligochitosan-pectin microcarrier for colonic drug delivery

Pectin-based hydrogel microcarriers have shown promise for drug delivery to the colonic region. Microcarriers must remain stable throughout the upper gastrointestinal tract for effective colonic delivery, an issue that traditional pectin-based microcarriers have faced. The positively-charged natural biopolymer oligochitosan and divalent cation Ca2+ were used to dually cross-link pectin-based hydrogel microcarriers to improve carrier stability through simulated gastric and intestinal environments. Microcarriers were characterized with Scanning Electron Microscope and Fourier-Transform Infrared analysis. An optical microscope was used to observe the change of microcarrier size and morphology over time in the simulated gastrointestinal environments. Fluorescently-labeled Dextran was used as a model drug for this system. Calcium-Oligochitosan-Pectin microcarriers exhibited relatively small drug release in the upper gastrointestinal regions and were responsive to the high pH and enzymatic activity of simulated colonic environment (over 94% release after 2 h), suggesting great potential for colonic drug delivery.

Design of a Novel Oxygen Therapeutic Using Polymeric Hydrogel Microcapsules Mimicking Red Blood Cells.

The goal of this research was to develop a novel oxygen therapeutic made from a pectin-based hydrogel microcapsule carrier mimicking red blood cells. The study focused on three main criteria for developing the oxygen therapeutic to mimic red blood cells: size (5–10 μm), morphology (biconcave shape), and functionality (encapsulation of oxygen carriers; e.g., hemoglobin (Hb)). The hydrogel carriers were generated via the electrospraying of the pectin-based solution into an oligochitosan crosslinking solution using an electrospinning setup. The pectin-based solution was investigated first to develop the simplest possible formulation for electrospray. Then, Design-Expert® software was used to optimize the production process of the hydrogel microcapsules. The optimal parameters were obtained through the analysis of a total of 17 trials and the microcapsule with the desired morphology and size was successfully prepared under the optimized condition. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the chemistry of the microcapsules. Moreover, the encapsulation of Hb into the microcapsule did not adversely affect the microcapsule preparation process, and the encapsulation efficiency was high (99.99%). The produced hydrogel microcapsule system shows great promise for creating a novel oxygen therapeutic.

Silver nanoparticle-embedded pectin-based hydrogel for adsorptive removal of dyes and metal ions

Silver nanoparticles made by green synthesis have been incorporated into pectin-based copolymer gel to make a nanocomposite gel to be used as an adsorbent material for the removal of divalent metal ions and dyes from aqueous solutions. Silver nanoparticles were obtained by mixing silver nitrate with aqueous solution of pectin followed by microwave irradiation. The nanocomposite hydrogel was obtained by the microwave-assisted polymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and acrylamide (AAm) in the presence of N,N’-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) in pectin solution containing silver particles. Characterization of the nanocomposite gel was done by FTIR, TGA, XRD, FESEM and EDS techniques. The system was evaluated for its capacity to adsorb cationic dye, crystal violet (CV) and metal ions [Cu(II) and Pb(II)] from aqueous solutions. The presence of Ag nanoparticles is observed to enhance the adsorption capacity of the gel for the above mentioned adsorbates. The kinetic studies revealed second-order adsorption processes which fit well into Langmuir model. The evaluation of thermodynamic parameters indicated the adsorption process to be exothermic and spontaneous. A maximum of 1950 mg/g CV, 111 mg/g Cu(II) and 130 mg/g Pb(II) could be removed from the aqueous solution which is quite high in comparison with other reported materials. The desorption studies indicated the possible reusability of the nanocomposite.

Auto-Cross-Linking Hydrogels of Hydrogen Peroxide-Oxidized Pectin and Gelatin for Applications in Controlled Drug Delivery

Pectin-based hydrogels for biomedical applications have attracted recent attention due to their low cost, large availability of the materials, and high levels of biocompatibility. Specifically, periodate-oxidized pectin has been combined with chitosan and gelatin to form different structures. However, hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidation of pectin has not been studied for this application; furthermore, there is little information on the effect of the degree of oxidation on hydrogel characteristics nor has the feasibility of these systems as controlled drug delivery matrices been explored. Thus, the present work proposes to study the properties of gelatin-peroxide-oxidized pectin hydrogels as drug delivery systems in wound dressing applications. Combinations of pectin at different degrees of oxidation (high, low, and native pectin) and gelatin were analyzed and tested by swelling properties, reswelling from xerogel and aerogel forms, SEM, FTIR, and drug release. It was determined that hydrogels that contained oxidized pectin had improved swelling ratios and stability, at 32°C, compared to those with native pectin and only gelatin. The porosity of the oxidized pectin hydrogels allowed to have sustained and high release rates, which would make them an attractive alternative for wound dressings.

Synthesis and Effect of Structure on Swelling Properties of Hydrogels Based on High Methylated Pectin and Acrylic Polymers.

The aim of the research was to develop new pectin-based hydrogels with excellent swelling properties. Superabsorbent hydrogels composed of high methylated pectin and partially neutralized poly(acrylic acid) was obtained by free radical polymerization in aqueous solution in the presence of crosslinking agent—N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide. The effect of crosslinker content and pectin to acrylic acid ratio on the swelling properties of hydrogels was investigated. In addition, the thermodynamic characteristic of hydrogels was obtained by DSC. Furthermore, the structure of pectin-based hydrogels was characterized by FTIR and GPC. It was also proved that poly(acrylic acid) is grafted on pectin particles. The results showed that introduction of small amount of pectin (up to 6.7 wt %) to poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel increase the swelling capacity, while further increasing of pectin ratio cause decrease of swelling.

Silver nanoparticles embedded pectin-based hydrogel: a novel adsorbent material for separation of cationic dyes

Free radical polymerization of mixture of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid and Pectin in the presence of N,N-methylenebisacrylamide resulted in the cross-linked graft copolymer network (Pec-g-PAMPS). Silver nanoparticles were formed and stabilized by the reduction of silver nitrate using trisodium citrate within the gel network. The hydrogel and the nanocomposite hydrogel were characterized using FTIR, TGA, XRD, SEM, EDS and TEM techniques and evaluated for removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution. The presence of Ag NPs is observed to enhance the swelling ability of the Pec-g-PAMPS gels significantly. The kinetics studies indicated the adsorption to be a second-order process and the adsorption rate was influenced by intraparticle diffusion. The adsorption isotherm was in good agreement with Freundlich model suggesting surface heterogeneity of the novel adsorbent. Further, the thermodynamic studies revealed the adsorption to be a spontaneous and exothermic process. The nanocomposite hydrogel retained 80% efficiency after three cycles indicating reusability for waste water treatment.

Methylene blue removal by using pectin-based hydrogels extracted from dragon fruit peel waste using gamma and microwave radiation polymerization techniques

This research aims to compare the ability of smart hydrogel in removing the methylene blue prepared by using two different radiation methods. The extracted pectin from the dragon fruit peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus) was used with acrylic acid (AA) to produce a polymerized hydrogel through gamma and microwave radiation. The optimum hydrogel swelling capacity was obtained by varying the dose of radiation, pectin to AA ratio and pH used. From the array of samples, the ideal hydrogel was obtained at pH 8 with a ratio of 2:3 (pectin: AA) using 10 kGy and 400 W radiated gamma and microwave respectively. The performance of both hydrogels namely as Pc/AA(G) (gamma) and Pc/AA(Mw) (microwave) were investigated using methylene blue (MB) adsorption studies. In this study, three variables were manipulated, pH and MB concentration and hydrogel mass in order to find the optimum condition for the adsorption. Results showed that 20 mg of Pc/AA(G) performed the highest MB removal which was about 45% of 20 mg/L MB at pH 8. While 30 mg of Pc/AA(Mw) able to remove up to 35% of 20 mg/L MB at the same pH condition. To describe the adsorption mechanism, both kinetic models pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order were employed. The results from kinetic data showed that it fitted the pseudo-first-order as compared to pseudo-second-order model equation. This study provides alternative of green, facile and affective biomaterial for dye absorbents that readily available.

Magnetic nanoparticles embedded in pectin‐based hydrogel for the sustained release of diclofenac sodium

AbstractA supermagnetic polysaccharide‐based nanocomposite gel has been developed as a potential drug delivery system. The gel was made via graft copolymerization of 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid on pectin using ammonium peroxodisulfate as an initiator and N,N‐methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker under microwave irradiation. The magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were incorporated within the gel network via an in situ method of diffusion of Fe2+/Fe3+ followed by reduction with ammonia solution. The graft copolymer gel and its nanocomposite were characterized using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic properties of the nanocomposite were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer and mechanical properties using a tensile compressive tester. The gel was evaluated for adsorption and release of the drug diclofenac sodium. The presence of MNPs is observed to enhance significantly the mechanical properties, swelling capacity, drug loading and release ability of the graft polymer gel. The increased porosity of the gel network and higher surface area of MNPs allowed for 20% higher adsorption of diclofenac sodium molecules compared to the parent nonmagnetic gel. About 95% of the loaded drug was released from the MNP‐containing gel. The drug release pattern followed first‐order kinetic model and the Higuchi square root model, indicating swelling‐controlled diffusion to be the mode of drug release. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry