Modeling of caffeine release from crosslinked water-swellable gelatin and gelatin-maltodextrin hydrogels

Research from this group has recently led to the development of a genipin-crosslinked gelatin gel that may be used as a controlled release matrix for bioactive compounds. This study presents a model that simulates the release of entrapped caffeine from the hydrogel and the ingress of water into these gels. Fick's second law of diffusion is used to describe the water penetration and bioactive release in the system. To validate the model, caffeine release experiments from the gel were carried out. The predicted bioactive release profiles are in very good agreement with experimental data at different gel compositions. The model may also be used for a wide range of bioactive molecules and hydrogels with different cylindrical dimensions.