Abstract

In the present work, a grafted polymer of polyacrylamide with gum arabica was synthesized as Gum acacia-g-polyacrylamide using microwave-assisted synthesis with ceric ammonium nitrate as a reaction initiator. The polymer was utilized in combination with sodium alginate to prepare interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel beads to effectively deliver gabapentin in gastrointestinal tract. The formulated interpenetrating polymer network microbeads showed pH-responsive release in a different medium. The interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel beads were processed for different analytical characterization like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study confirms the formation of gum acacia-g-polyacrylamide whereas differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction studies confirm the appearance of gabapentin in the interpenetrating polymer network microbead formulations. The release of the drug from the interpenetrating polymer network structured hydrogel beads was found higher in pH 6.8 as compared to pH 1.2 and pH 7.4 indicating the effective delivery of gabapentin from the interpenetrating polymer network beads to upper duodenum for better absorption.