The formation of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC) based semi-interpenetrating networks (semi-IPN) with poly(acylamide- co-2-acrylamido-2-methy-l-propanesulfonic-acid) hydrogels. The hydrogels were prepared by free-radical polymerization using redox initiator. The characterizations of hydrogels were done by swelling experiments, FTIR spectroscopy and DSC analysis. Morphology of the samples were examined by SEM. Experimental results indicate that the semi-IPN hydrogel containing 0.10 g of SCMC and 5.829mM of AMPS, shows the highest swelling capacity (64.83 g/g). The swelling behavior of the semi-IPN hydrogel (AS5) was studied in different pH solutions. The ranitidine hydrochloride drug loading and release of the semi-IPN hydrogels were studied by using a UV spectrophotometer. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.