Synthesis and Evaluation of a Glutaraldehyde-Crosslinked Chitosan-PVA Hydrogel for Controlled Amoxicillin Release

Abstract

1. Background: Hydrogels have emerged as promising biomaterials for wound healing applications due to their high water content, biocompatibility, and ability to serve as drug delivery vehicles [1]. The development of effective antimicrobial wound dressings remains a critical challenge in biomedical research.

   Objective: This study aimed to synthesize and characterize a novel glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (CS-PVA) hydrogel for controlled amoxicillin delivery in wound healing applications.

   Methods: A hydrogel was prepared by crosslinking chitosan (2% w/v in 2% acetic acid) with polyvinyl alcohol (10% w/v in distilled water) using glutaraldehyde (2.5% v/v) as the crosslinking agent. The hydrogel was characterized through swelling studies in distilled water, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and ethanol. Drug release kinetics were evaluated by loading the hydrogel with amoxicillin (50 μg/mL) and monitoring release over 120 minutes using UV-Vis spectrophotometry at 278 nm.

   Results: The synthesized hydrogel demonstrated differential swelling behavior with the highest absorption in distilled water, followed by PBS, and minimal swelling in ethanol. The drug release profile exhibited a biphasic pattern with an initial burst release followed by sustained release, achieving over 65% cumulative amoxicillin release within 2 hours.

   Conclusion: The CS-PVA-glutaraldehyde hydrogel system shows promising characteristics for wound healing applications, combining high water absorption capacity with controlled antibiotic delivery. The biphasic release profile could provide immediate antimicrobial action followed by sustained therapeutic levels.