Synthesis of a dextran based thermo-sensitive drug delivery system by gamma irradiation

Abstract

Gamma radiation was used as the initiator/crosslinker agent for the synthesis of thermo-sensitive hydrogel networks, under the form of membranes, using dextran and N-isopropylacrylamide. The prepared membranes were loaded with Ondansetron™, a potent antiemetic drug and tested as drug delivery systems. The characterization of the materials was accomplished by: Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, lower critical solution temperature (LCST) determination, swelling behaviour evaluation, determination of surface energy by contact angle measurement and drug delivery kinetics studies. Also, the influence of irradiation time and temperature on the materials properties was evaluated.