pH-Sensitive CNC-Chitosan Hydrogel for Drug Delivery

In contemporary society, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is prevalent and acknowledged. In treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pH-sensitive drug delivery systems are commonly utilized. Nonetheless, their efficacy tends to be reduced as a result of modifications in the pH levels within the intestines. This study aims to develop a medication delivery system responsive to changes in pH to deliver 5-aminosalicylic acid specifically to the colon. CNC-chitosan hydrogel was produced by implementing the cross-linking technique, employing glutaraldehyde as the cross-linking agent. The hydrogel was subjected to characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), swelling capacity analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The release kinetics of 5-aminosalicylic acid from cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and CNC-chitosan composites showed superior performance at pH 7.4 compared to pH 2.4. The release profile of 5-aminosalicylic acid from CNC-chitosan hydrogel can be accurately represented by the Korsemeyar-Peppas equation. CNC and CNC-chitosan were compatible with osteoblast cells, indicating their lack of toxicity.