Hybrid hydrogels derived from renewable resources as a smart stimuli responsive soft material for drug delivery applications
Vandana Singh, Yadavali Siva Prasad, Arun Kumar Rachamalla, Vara Prasad Rebaka, Tohira Banoo, C. Uma Maheswari, Vellaisamy Sridharan, Krishnamoorthy Lalitha, Subbiah Nagarajan
Abstract
-acyl amides were synthesized from natural precursors using a simple synthetic protocol. Interestingly, the self-assembly of amphiphiles 6a and 7a furnished a hydrogel and oleogel in vegetable oils. Morphological analysis of gels revealed the existence of a 3-dimensional fibrous network. Thermoresponsive and thixotropic behavior of these gels were evaluated using rheological analysis. A composite gel prepared by the encapsulation of curcumin in the hydrogel formed from 7a displayed a gel-sol transition in response to pH and could act as a dual channel responsive drug carrier.