Development of Acyclovir Loaded -Cyclodextrin-g-Poly Methacrylic Acid Hydrogel Microparticles: An In Vitro Characterization

In this work, successful efforts have been performed for solubility enhancement of acyclovir. pH-sensitive -Cyclodextrin-g-poly methacrylic acid (MAA) hydrogel microparticles were developed. -Cyclodextrin, MAA, N,N-methylene bisacrylamide were used as polymer, monomer, and cross-linker, respectively. Nine different formulations (BM-1 to BM-9) were prepared by aqueous free radical polymerization. Developed microparticles were characterized for FTIR, Differential Scanning Calorimetry/Thermo Gravimetric Analysis, PXRD, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, optical microscopy, zeta sizer, percent equilibrium swelling (%ES), solubility studies, and in vitro drug release studies. Higher swelling results (83.68%) were obtained at pH 7.4 in less than 3 h. Porous surfaces with drug were seen in TEM images. Maximum release was observed at pH 7.4 (89.51%). Solubility enhancement was 7.38-fold in water as compared to pure acyclovir. Thermal stability of grafted microparticles was increased up to 440.13 degrees C. A potential approach for solubility enhancement was successfully developed.