Release and diffusion of sulfamethoxazole through acrylamide-based hydrogel

Two polymeric hydrogels (xerogels) containing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)-crosslinked polyacrylamide and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-crosslinked polyacrylamide were loaded with the sulfamethoxazole drug and their swelling and drug-release dynamics were investigated at a fixed pH and at room temperature (27 degreesC). The effects of various factors such as the composition of the xerogel, crosslinking density, and drug loading mere studied on the swelling and drug-release pattern of the xerogels. The kinetic parameters such as the diffusion exponent (n), diffusion constant (k), and diffusion coefficient (D) were also evaluated and analyzed. The percent drug released by these xerogels was also compared to that by the crosslinked gelatin gels. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.