Synthesis and pH sensitivity of carboxymethyl chitosan-based polyampholyte hydrogels for protein carrier matrices

Novel polyampholyte hydrogels based on carboxymethyl chitosans (CMC) of various degree of deacetylation (DD) and substitution (DS) were prepared by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. The hydrogel showed typical amphoteric character responding to pH of the external medium. At the isoelectric point (IEP), the hydrogel shrunk most, when the pH deviated from IEP, the swelling degree (Ds) increased. With increasing DD or DS value, the hydrogel changed from polyampholyte into polycations or polyanions, respectively. Osmotic forces and intermolecular interactions among CMC chains regulate the swelling behavior of CMC gel. The carboxymethyl chitin hydrogels were loaded with bovine blood proteins (BSA), and their release studies were performed in both the simulated gastric and intestinal pH conditions. The release was much quicker in pH 7.4 buffer than pH 1.2 solution; the release followed Fickian diffusion in the first 4 h and then steadily increased with the dissolution of the hydrogels.