Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Injectable Hydrogel as Drug Carrier

Hydrogels are a unique three-dimensional cross-linked network of natural polymers, whichhave the ability to absorbe large amounts of water. These materials are stable upon swelling inwater and are capable of imbibing a major value of water, varying from10% to thousands oftimes of its own volume [1]. The most important properties of hydrogels can be pointed tolow toxicity, similarity to body tissue and their biologically compatible in order to performingchemical reactions without any side effects. In addition, injectable hydrogels can be used asdrug delivery systems in different fields including cell/drug delivery andtissue engineeringapplications due to its good biocompatibility feature, renewability, controllable physical andsuitable chemical properties [2]. In this research, the injectable biodegradable hydrogel hasbeen successfully synthesized based on Michael addition reaction between natural monomerof Chitosan (CS) and synthesis monomer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). APVA was preparedby functionalized polyvinyl alcohol at 80 °C for 24 hours and then chitosan solution was added.Chitosan hydrogel followed by stirring and heating for 20 hours at 70 °Cand pH=4. Theswelling studies of a product were carried out as a function of time, temperature and pH. Ananti-cancer drug was loaded into this hydrogel and the loading amount of the desired substancesamount were evaluated. Also, the effect of this drug release was studied in a simulatedbiological environment and a cancerous cell (acidic medium). The synthesized hydrogelpropertywas determined using different characterization techniques such as FT-IR, TGA, XRDand melting point.