Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-Coated Hydrogel Composites for an Efficient Drug Delivery System

Abstract

Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) with hydrogel capsule layer was easily prepared via radical polymerization of co-monomers N-isopropylacrylamide and acrylic acid in 96: 4 and 91: 9 wt% on the olefin terminated surface of SNPs. The hydrogel-encapsulated SNPs (SNPs@Hyd) have carboxylic acid groups, which can bind alternatively chitosan/alginate/chitosan chains to enhance the structural integrity of hydrogel composites. Chitosan-coated SNPs@Hyd exhibited prolonged releasing times of absorbed ibuprofens from hydrogel capsules entangled by alternative chitosan/alginate/chitosan chains. In particular, double chitosan-coated SNPs@Hyd (SNPs@Hyd@Chi@Algi@Chi) absorbed larger amount of ibuprofen than that of single chitosan-coated SNPs@ Hyd (SNPs@Hyd@Chi), demonstrating a chemical strategy for preparing an efficient drug delivery system.