Drug release properties of amphoteric HES/p(AETAC-co-IA) hydrogels decorated with gold nanoparticles

In this study, amphoteric hydroxyethyl starch/p([2(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride-co-itaconic acid (HES/p(AETAC-co-IA) hydrogels containing both cationic and anionic groups in their structure were synthesized by the redox polymerization method. The synthesized hydrogels were modified with gold nanoparticles, and nanocomposite hydrogels were obtained. The characterizations of the nanocomposite HES/p(AETAC-co-IA)@Au hydrogels prepared for biomedical applications were carried out by SEM, TEM, FT-IR, TGA, and XRD techniques and swelling tests in simulated biological environments. Hydrogels designed as drug carrier cargo materials were loaded with sodium diclofenac (NaDcF) and ibuprofen drugs, and their release properties were studied. The release mechanisms and release kinetics of the two drugs were studied. The release kinetics determined for the drug NaDcF is consistent with the Higuchi model, while the release kinetics determined for ibuprofen is consistent with the first-order model. In addition, the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the hydrogels were tested. It was found that the HES/p(AETAC-co-IA)@Au hydrogel was effective against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the fungal species Candida albicans.