Controlled-Release and Antibacterial Studies of Levofloxacin-Loaded (Gelatin-Poly Acrylamide) Hydrogel IPNs

Abstract

Interpenetrating polymer network Hydrogels (J1-J6) were synthesized from gelatin, acrylamide and polyethylene glycol by chemical crosslinking using Gluteraldehyde and bisacrylamide, the hydrogels were loaded with levofloxacin. The slow release of levofloxacin was studied by using UV spectroscopy at temperature 37˚C and with different pH (distilled water pH=6.8, SGF pH=1.2 and in SIF pH=8.2), The swelling of polymers in these solutions was also studied. The results exhibit that the pH has great effect on swelling ratio of the IPN hydrogels and release rate of levofloxacin, the hydrogels were showed high swelling ratio and fast release rate with low and high values of pH (SGF and SIF) compared with neutral solution. The toxicity of hydrogels was studied which is shown that the prepared hydrogels are nontoxic. The hydrogels –levofloxacin delivery were followed as antibacterial activity by Disk Diffusion Testing on Mueller-Hinton Agar and Broth microdilution methods over a period of four consecutive days Against two types of bacteria (Streptococcus mitis and Escherichia coli). The results showed the continuous release of the Levofloxacin from the polymers with effectiveness as an antibacterial for four consecutive days.