CNT-tamarind gum–based solid-textured composite hydrogels for drug delivery applications

The effect of incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) within the solid-textured tamarind gum–based hydrogel is reported herein. A series of composite hydrogels were prepared by varying the concentration of CNTs. It was found that CNTs altered the microarchitecture of the hydrogels in a concentration-dependent manner. Hydrogen bonding was found to be prevalent within the developed hydrogels. The electrical and the mechanical studies suggested inhomogeneous microarchitecture and compromised time-dependent mechanical stability of the hydrogels, respectively. The drug, tigecycline, was released via Fickian diffusion. The incorporated drug did not lose its antimicrobial activity. In gist, the CNT-loaded tamarind gum hydrogel can be explored as an antimicrobial drug delivery system.