title: Spherical gelatin/CNTs hybrid microgels as electro-responsive drug delivery systems.
abstract: Novel spherical hybrid hydrogels composed of gelatin and multi-walled carbon nanotubes were synthesized by emulsion polymerization in the presence of sodium methacrylate and N,N'-ethylenebisacrylamide, and proposed as drug delivery microspheres for the electro-responsive release of Diclofenac sodium salt. Different amounts of nanotubes (up to 35% by weight) were covalently inserted into the polymeric network in order to determine the percentage conferring the highest electric sensitivity to the composite microspheres. Characterization of hydrogels was performed by electrical, morphological and calorimetric analyses, Raman measurements, biocompatibility assays and evaluation of the swelling behaviors in water (pH 1.0 and pH 7.4) with and without the application of an external electric field. Finally, the release profiles were determined and the diffusion behavior was evaluated by semi-empirical equations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, I-87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy.
authors.forename: U Gianfranco
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Spizzirri
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hampel
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: Fiore Pasquale
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Nicoletta
authors.forename: Abdelwahab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vittorio
authors.forename: Nevio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Picci
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iemma
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D008863:Microspheres; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D020100:Hydrogels; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D004008:Diclofenac; D005780:Gelatin