1Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Royal College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Andhapasara Road, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha - 760002, India
2Assistant professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mohuda, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha - 760002, India
3Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Nityananda College of Pharmacy, NH 16, Seragarh, Balasore, Odisha, India - 756060
4Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Dhaneswar Rath Institute of Engineering and Medical Sciences (DRIEMS University), Tangi, Cuttack - 754 022, Odisha, India
5Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Royal College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Andhapasara Road, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha - 760002, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: ajit417@gmail.com
Online published on 31 March, 2026.
The objective of this work was to formulate and characterize a series of phase-separated hydrogel formulations based on gelatin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) for controlled delivery applications.
The hydrogel was evaluated for physicochemical properties such as swelling index, mechanical strength, and pH compatibility. Thermal stability was assessed using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA/DSC), while microscopy confirmed phase separation. Biocompatibility and stability were examined under different storage conditions. Drug release kinetics and mechanisms were analyzed, and FTIR was used to identify material interactions.
Gelatin/HPMC hydrogels were prepared via segregative phase separation and stabilized with glutaraldehyde to enhance structural integrity. The hydrogels exhibited hydrogen bonding, pH-responsive swelling, and mechanical properties influenced by HPMC viscosity. Moisture content was consistent across formulations (80-85%). Higher HPMC viscosity reduced swelling at acidic pH, altered mechanical strength, and slowed drug release by forming a robust gel network.
Gelatin/HPMC-based phase-separated hydrogels demonstrate potential as pH-sensitive intravaginal drug delivery systems, offering sustained and controlled release of antibiotics. FTIR confirmed strong hydrogen bonding, while swelling, impedance, and mechanical studies highlighted the influence of HPMC content on hydrogel properties. These biodegradable hydrogels are flexible, user-friendly, and effective for localized therapeutic delivery.
This study develops pH-sensitive hydrogels made from gelatin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) for controlled intravaginal drug delivery. These hydrogels, which degrade after use, exhibit enhanced water retention, controlled drug release, and pH-responsive swelling behaviour, indicating their potential as effective drug delivery systems.
Gelatin, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Polysaccharide Phase-separated hydrogels, Drug delivery
