pH-responsive release of small molecule pharmaceuticals from a reworked adsorbent hydrogel for environmental applications

Key Points

• The hydrogel facilitates controlled release of pharmaceuticals in a pH-responsive manner, enhancing environmental safety.
• Achieving over 90% cumulative release of various small molecule pharmaceuticals shows its efficacy for applications.
• This approach utilizes poly(acrylic acid-co-vinylsulfonic acid) hydrogel, indicating its unique properties for release mechanics.
• Findings provide a basis for future environmental adaptations, emphasizing potential impacts on pharmaceutical pollution.