Influence of Cross-linking Agents on Drug Delivery Behavior of Magnetic Nanohydrogels Made of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Chitosan

With the purpose of examining cross-linking agents, we used glutaraldehyde and ammonium persulfate to synthesize nanohydrogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol), chitosan, and magnetite nanoparticles. Fe3O4 nanoparticles were produced by coprecipitation in alkaline solution under sonication followed by coating with chitosan. Then, poly(vinyl alcohol) was combined with chitosan in the presence of glutaraldehyde and ammonium persulfate as cross-linking agents. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles had nanoscale size that was confirmed by XRD, SEM, and TEM. VSM measurements showed that all samples were superparamagnetic. Physicochemical properties of nanohydrogels were measured by DLS and zeta potential. The unspecific adsorption and interaction of nanohydrogels with bovine serum albumin and immunoglobulin G were investigated systematically by UV-Vis spectroscopy method. The release profile of nanohydrogels showed that nanohydrogels cross-linked with glutaraldehyde represent more sensitivity to pH. These nanohydrogels had more and faster release in acidic release medium.