On demand delivery of ionic drugs from electro-responsive CNT hybrid films

Electro-responsive hybrid hydrogel films were prepared by UV-induced polymerization of Acrylamide and N,N′-ethylene bisacrylamide to be applied for the on/off delivery of therapeutics. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes were covalently incorporated into films and acted as a functional element for both enhancing the electro-responsivity and modulating the release of anionic and cationic drugs as diclofenac sodium salt and ciprofloxacin. Hybrid hydrogel films were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, optical microscopy, conductivity measurements, and biocompatibility on human mesenchymal stem cells. Swelling behaviour and drug release profiles were evaluated in the presence of an external applied electric voltage and mathematically modelled. The application of an external electric voltage resulted in a faster release of anionic drugs, while a slower release was recorded for cationic drugs.