Authors : Masrina Mohd Nadzir, Lau Sin Mun and Chan Pei Juan
Abstract: Gelatin hydrogels are attractive for use in biomedical applications due to its well defined structural, physical and chemical properties. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of crosslinked gelatin hydrogel incorporated with curcumin and the release characteristic of curcumin from the hydrogel matrix. The addition of naturally occurring crosslinking agent, genipin has improved the mechanical strength of the gelatin hydrogel. Low concentration of genipin (0.1% w/w) added to gelatin solution prior to solidification resulted in average pore size more than 1000% larger than the average pore size of un-crosslinked gelatin hydrogel. However, average pore size was reduced with further increased in genipin concentration. This is accompanied with decreased in swelling capacity of hydrogel. Curcumin entrapment and release analysis confirmed that the alteration of pore size through crosslinking with varying genipin concentration enabled the controlled release of curcumin from hydrogel matrix.
Masrina Mohd Nadzir, Lau Sin Mun and Chan Pei Juan, 2017. Characterization of Genipin-Crosslinked Gelatin Hydrogel Loaded with Curcumin. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 12: 2294-2298.