Fabrication of pH-sensitive bacterial cellulose/carboxymethyl cellulose hybrid hydrogel beads in agitated culture for oral drug delivery

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC), a biopolymer with unique properties, has been employed in numerous biomedical applications. Carboxymethyl cellulose was introduced to the agitated culture of Gluconacetobacter xylinus to produce pH-responsive BC hydrogel beads. It was shown by x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis that adding carboxymethyl cellulose to the agitated culture increased the crystallinity of the hydrogel beads. Scanning electron microscopy exhibited the 3-D porous structure of microfibrils and the reverse effect of adding carboxymethyl cellulose on the hydrogels' porosity. The hydrogels were loaded with ibuprofen sodium salt (IbuNa), and their release and swelling studies were conducted in the simulated gastric and simulated intestinal fluids. It was observed that by increasing the amount of carboxymethyl cellulose in the culture medium, the pH responsivity of the beads was increased. Thus, this study shows the potential of the BC/CMC system as an oral drug delivery system.