OICC Press International Journal of Industrial Chemistry 2228-5547 9 1 2023 11 17 Characterization and in vitro release kinetics of antimalarials from whey protein-based hydrogel biocomposites https://doi.org/10.1007/s40090-018-0139-2 EN S. J. Owonubi Department of Biochemistry, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa B. A. Aderibigbe Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa E. Mukwevho Department of Biochemistry, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa E. R. Sadiku Department of Polymer Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, CSIR Campus, Building 14D, Lynwood Ridge, Private Bag X025, Pretoria, 0040, South Africa S. S. Ray Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa Journal Article 2023 11 17 rayrayIn this research, hydrogel biocomposites were prepared from whey protein isolate (WPI), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and synthetic polymers in varied ratios. Their physicochemical properties were evaluated by FTIR, SEM, TGA, AFM, and TEM. FTIR spectra revealed significant peaks at 1167 cm−1 for C–O–C peak and at 1449 cm−1 for O–H bending for WPI and rGO, respectively. The hydrogels were loaded with proguanil hydrochloride and chloroquine diphosphate and in vitro release kinetics of individual drugs from the biocomposites were studied. The SEM images of the biocomposites after drug release confirmed that they are biodegradable. The drug release was controlled, pH-dependent which further confirmed that the hydrogels are pH-sensitive. The release of proguanil from the hydrogels was slow when compared to chloroquine, suggesting that the solubility of the drug influenced their rate of release. The drug release from the biocomposites fitted the Korsmeyer–Peppas model with n values for chloroquine between 0.46 and 0.49 at pH of 1.2 and between 0.72 and 1.41 at pH of 7.4. The n values for proguanil were between 0.66 and 0.83 at pH 1.2 and 0.85–0.92 at pH 7.4. The results obtained suggested that the biocomposites are potential systems that can be tailored for controlled delivery of bioactive agents.