Modulation of dynamic release of vitamin B₂ from a model pH‐sensitive terpolymeric hydrogel system

Abstract

Abstract Terpolymeric devices consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide and acrylic acid were synthesized and the release of the model drug riboflavin from these devices was studied at the physiological temperature 37°C. The gels exhibit a sharp pH‐dependent release behavior. The devices released nearly 42.2 ± 2.6% drug at pH 1.0 while nearly 95.3 ± 3.2% drug was released at pH 7.4. With increasing concentration of cross‐linker in the gel, the drug released was found to decrease. Moreover, with low content of cross‐linker a nearly zero‐order profile was obtained. The size of the cylindrical devices also affected the release kinetics and a linear dependency was observed between t 1/2 (ie, the time required for 50 % release) and the square of the diameter, thus supporting the Tanaka–Fillmore theory. The molar ratio of acrylamide and methacrylamide also affected the dynamic release of riboflavin. It was found that variation in transit time could also affect the drug‐releasing capacity of the devices. Finally, the average and ‘late‐time’ diffusion coefficients for the gels having different initial loads were also evaluated. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry