Fabrication and evaluation of stimuli-sensitive xanthan gum-based hydrogel as a potential carrier for a hydrophobic drug ibuprofen

This research work aimed at the synthesis and characterization of novel xanthan gum/polyacrylamide/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (XG/PAM/PVP)-based hydrogels for the delivery of the hydrophobic drug ibuprofen. The influence of crosslinker, biopolymer, and initiator amount on the hydrogel’s swelling ratio, porosity, and gel fraction was also investigated. Several techniques like Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Thermogravimetry Analysis (TGA) were employed to characterize the synthesized hydrogels. Sol–gel analysis revealed an increase in the gel fraction with a rise in the concentration of MBA, XG, and KPS. Porosity measurements indicated a greater porosity with higher XG and KPS amounts, while porosity decreased as the MBA amount increased. Furthermore, the presence of PVP in the hydrogel was observed to greatly enhance various properties, including gel fraction, swelling ratio, porosity, drug loading, and drug release percent. Notably, under alkaline conditions (pH 7.4), the swelling ratio and release of ibuprofen were significantly increased, as compared to acidic (pH 1.2). The ibuprofen release from the XG/PAM/PVP hydrogel is governed by a Fickian diffusion mechanism, and the Korsmeyer-Peppas model serves as the most appropriate model for elucidating the drug release kinetic in both pH 1.2 and 7.4. The pH-responsive nature exhibited by the XG/PAM/PVP hydrogel highlights its potential as a drug delivery system.