Volume :
2
Issue :
2
Abstract :
The aim of the present study was an attempt to synthesise novel hydrogels using acrylic acid and xanthan gum and to study the swelling behavior and mechanism of the drug release from the hydrogels. Acrylic acid and xanthan gum were used as rate controlling polymers. Methylene bis acrylic acid was used as a crosslinking agent and potassium persulfate as reaction initiator. Swelling studies were performed in different media i.e. distilled water, 0.1N HCl and 6.8 phosphate buffer. The hydrogels showed better swelling in 6.8 phosphate buffer. Dissolution studies showed that the drug release was better observed in alkaline PH. The release kinetics followed zero order non-fickian diffusion mechanism. Hence Hydrogel formulation of Valsartan could be effectively used as PH dependant swellable systems and hence used as stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems.