In the present article, a new class of chitosan hydrogels containing 2-aminobenzamide units in their crosslink chains was prepared by reaction of chitosan with different percentages of bis-isatoic anhydride as cross-linker at 70 °C. Then, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/hydrogel nanocomposites were fabricated by crosslinking of chitosan with bisisatoic anhydride in the presence of 0.1% and 0.3% (w/w) MWCNTs. Scanning electron microscopy images have verified a 3D porous nanostructure with uniform morphology which MWCNTs were dispersed uniformly on the matrix of hydrogel nanocomposite. The swelling behaviours of the hydrogels and their nanocomposites were investigated by swelling the gels in media of different temperatures and pH. The results indicated the pH-thermo dual behaviour of hydrogels. Finally, metronidazole was selected as a model drug for the investigation of the drug release properties of the prepared hydrogels. The metronidazole release was affected by physical properties of medium and chemical content of hydrogels.
