**3. Results and discussion**

#### **3.1 Hydrogel and ferrogel formation**

The concept of this study is depicted in (**Figure 7**). Oxidized chitosan (OCS) was prepared following a well-known method where chitosan is oxidized with sodium periodate (NaIO4). Oxidization of chitosan created multiple aldehyde groups all along the polymeric chain using the method described in literature [54, 58]. The hydrogels and ferrogels (magnetic Fe3O4 embedded in novel hydrogel) were prepared by crosslinking chitosan (CS) with oxidized chitosan (OCS). The crosslinking of hydrogel and ferrogel was achieved by (–C=N-) bonds of Schiff-base reaction. Our results indicate that the process synthesis of the hydrogel and ferrogel was embedded with three drugs (5-FU, caffeine and ascorbic acid) has successfully loaded in the carrier polymeric. The schematic representation of smart ferrogel "magnetic hydrogel" was shown in (**Figure 7**).

The **Figure 8** shows the procedure for preparation of the hydrogel and a photograph of (CS-drug-OCS) hydrogel.

**11**

**Figure 8.**

**Figure 7.**

*A Novel Drug Delivery System Based on Nanoparticles of Magnetite Fe3O4 Embedded in an Auto…*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94873*

*Schematic representation of (CS-Fe3O4-OCS) ferrogel.*

*Schematic representation of the synthesis process of CS/drug/OCS hydrogel.*

*A Novel Drug Delivery System Based on Nanoparticles of Magnetite Fe3O4 Embedded in an Auto… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94873*

#### **Figure 7.** *Schematic representation of (CS-Fe3O4-OCS) ferrogel.*

#### **Figure 8.** *Schematic representation of the synthesis process of CS/drug/OCS hydrogel.*

*Chitin and Chitosan - Physicochemical Properties and Industrial Applications*

deal with Eq [57]:

mechanism.

Kaleida graph.

**2.2 Statistical analysis**

**3. Results and discussion**

**3.1 Hydrogel and ferrogel formation**

graph of (CS-drug-OCS) hydrogel.

UV–Vis spectrophotometry at λmax (5-Fluorouracil (266 nm), caffeine (273 nm) and ascorbic acid (265 nm)). The concentration of the active ingredient in the (PBS, pH = 7.4 at 37°C) has been achieved from the calibration curve, and the amount of drug released at time t (Mt) was calculated by accumulating the total active ingredient release up to that time. In vitro drug release tests were performed in triplicate (n = 3). There are a few steps, which mainly control drug release phenomena from the polymer matrix, dissolution of the drug, liquid penetration into the matrix and diffusion of the drug from the drug encapsulated in the matrix. In order to understand the release kinetics and the mechanism of the active ingredient release, release kinetics data obtained in vitro using ferrogels and hydrogels are fitted with kinetics model. The release data are best fitted with the Korsmeyer−Peppas (KP) model. The (KP) model

% = ×**<sup>t</sup>**

where "Mt" is the amount of drug released at time (t), "M0" is the maximal amount of the drug released at maximum interval. It is interesting to note that three drugs (5-FU, caffeine and ascorbic acid) in hydrogels exhibit a Fickian nature of drug diffusion. However, the interaction of the drug molecules with the matrix play an important role in the drug release kinetics occurring through a diffusion

The experimental data are expressed as the mean values of at least three replicates ± standard deviation (SD). The results were analyzed and showed usage

The concept of this study is depicted in (**Figure 7**). Oxidized chitosan (OCS) was prepared following a well-known method where chitosan is oxidized with sodium periodate (NaIO4). Oxidization of chitosan created multiple aldehyde groups all along the polymeric chain using the method described in literature [54, 58]. The hydrogels and ferrogels (magnetic Fe3O4 embedded in novel hydrogel) were prepared by crosslinking chitosan (CS) with oxidized chitosan (OCS). The crosslinking of hydrogel and ferrogel was achieved by (–C=N-) bonds of Schiff-base reaction. Our results indicate that the process synthesis of the hydrogel and ferrogel was embedded with three drugs (5-FU, caffeine and ascorbic acid) has successfully loaded in the carrier polymeric. The schematic representation of smart ferrogel "magnetic hydrogel" was shown in

The **Figure 8** shows the procedure for preparation of the hydrogel and a photo-

**<sup>M</sup> Cumulative release 100**

**0**

**<sup>M</sup>** (2)

**10**

(**Figure 7**).
