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Dual covalent and ionic crosslinked xanthan gum–PVA hydrogel films for enhanced drug release performance
Author(s)
Date Issued
November 1, 2025
Type
Article
Abstract
This study presents the development and characterization of dual crosslinked xanthan gum–polyvinyl alcohol (XP) hydrogel films for potential use in controlled drug delivery applications. Hydrogel films were synthesized using glutaraldehyde for covalent crosslinking and Cu2+ ions for ionic crosslinking, with varying polymer ratios and crosslinker concentrations. The swelling behavior and gel content were evaluated in both distilled water at 25 °C and simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 °C, revealing that dual crosslinking significantly enhanced structural integrity and swelling resistance, with gel content reaching up to 98%. Thermal analysis using DSC and DMA confirmed increased glass transition temperatures, indicating reduced polymer chain mobility due to denser crosslinking networks. Mechanical tests showed that the films possessed high tensile strength (60–62 MPa), with stiffness increasing alongside Cu2+ concentration and xanthan content. Cytocompatibility was validated through MTT assays on Vero cells, with all formulations exceeding 80% viability, thus classified as non-cytotoxic according to ISO 10993-5:2009 guidelines. Drug release studies using para-acetylaminophenol demonstrated sustained release behavior, achieving 50% release over 6 h in SBF. Kinetic analysis revealed that the release followed zero-order kinetics (R² = 0.9986) and case-II transport (n = 1.0396), indicating that release was governed by matrix swelling and erosion. These findings highlight the potential of XP dual crosslinked hydrogels as effective and biocompatible platforms for sustained drug delivery, particularly in wound care applications.
Citation
Journal of Polymer Research, 32(11), 2025