Effect of Processed Starches on the Properties of Gelatin-based Physical Hydrogels: Characterization, in vitro Drug Release and Antimicrobial Studies

Sols of starches have been reported to form phase-separated systems when mixed with the gelatin solution. This has been attributed to the thermodynamic incompatibility of the starch-gelatin systems. The current work has been designed to study the effect of processed starches on the properties of the gelatin-starch based phase-separated physical hydrogels. The hydrogels were prepared using corn starch, soluble starch and boiled starch. The hydrogels were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, thermal studies, textural studies and impedance spectroscopy. Metronidazole was incorporated within the hydrogels. The drug-loaded gels have shown good antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.