Radiation synthesis and characterization of sodium alginate/chitosan/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite hydrogels: a drug delivery system for liver cancer

Sodium alginate/chitosan/hydroxyapatite (SA/CS/HAP) nanocomposite hydrogel containing different amounts, 0.6, 2.0, 3.5 and 5.0 % wt/v, of HAP was synthesized using gamma radiation as cross-linker to be utilized for oral delivery drug. The nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, X- ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The efficiency of nanocomposite hydrogel samples as a drug delivery system was examined where doxorubicin (DOX)—an anticancer drug for liver cancer—was chosen as a model drug. The in vitro drug release behavior of DOX from the nanocomposite was studied at pH 7.4 and pH 5 within 24 h at 37 °C. Based on the diffusion as well as the drug release behavior, the mechanism of the drug release from the nanocomposite has been described. The effect of initial feed concentration of drug as well as the % of HAP on drug release was also studied. The results showed that, drug release is pH sensitive and samples showed higher release at pH 5.