Novel gelatin–graphene oxide crosslinking induced by nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma for alendronate delivery system

Nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma processes, including an interaction between plasma and liquid phases, are employed to induce crosslinked gelatin–graphene oxide composite hydrogels. The properties of thin-film hydrogel-forming postplasma treatment are analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, rheology, scanning electron microscope, and in vitro studies. The plasma-treated hydrogel (PT) exhibits an excellent gel strength with storage modulus up to 341 kPa and thermal stability of gel–sol transition at 65°C, elongated degradation time, and favorable cell viability. The practical application of PT demonstrates an efficient encapsulation and sustainable release of alendronate for at least 21 days. The results show that using nonthermal plasmas can be regarded as an alternative physical method to fabricate composite hydrogels for promising applications in drug carriers and biomedicine.