Abstract
This work focuses on the mathematical analysis of the controlled release of a standardized extract of A. chica from chitosan/alginate (C/A) membranes, which can be used for the treatment of skin lesions. Four different types of C/A membranes were tested: a dense membrane (CA), a dense and flexible membrane (CAS), a porous membrane (CAP) and a porous and flexible membrane (CAPS). The Arrabidae chica extract release profiles were obtained experimentally in vitro using PBS at 37 °C and pH 7. Experimental data of release kinetics were analyzed using five classical models from the literature: Zero Order, First Order, Higuchi, Korsmeyer–Peppas and Weibull functions. Results for the Korsmeyer–Peppas model showed that the release of A. chica extract from four membrane formulations was by a diffusion through a partially swollen matrix and through a water filled network mesh; however, the Weibull model suggested that non-porous membranes (CA and CAS) had fractal geometry and that porous membranes (CAP and CAPS) have highly disorganized structures. Nevertheless, by applying an explicit optimization method that employs a cost function to determine the model parameters that best fit to experimental data, the results indicated that the Weibull model showed the best simulation for the release profiles from the four membranes: CA, CAS and CAP presented Fickian diffusion through a polymeric matrix of fractal geometry, and only the CAPS membrane showed a highly disordered matrix. The use of this cost function optimization had the significant advantage of higher fitting sensitivity.
Highlights
Arrabidaea chica Verlot is a type of shrub found in tropical America, from the south of Mexico to Brazil, being very common in the Amazon rainforest [1]
The observed intense red color in the photographs (Figure 1A–D) was due to the insoluble anthocyanin pigments carajurin and carajurone included in the A. chica extract [23]
The Weibull model suggested that non-porous membranes (CA and CAS) had fractal geometry and that porous membranes (CAP and CAPS) were highly disorganized structures
Summary
Arrabidaea chica Verlot is a type of shrub found in tropical America, from the south of Mexico to Brazil, being very common in the Amazon rainforest [1]. Different biopolymers have been used to deliver drugs and other compounds for the treatment of skin lesions in a local, targeted and controlled manner [4]. One of the most versatile biopolymers is chitosan, which is obtained mainly from shells of crustaceans, such as shrimp [5]. In this regard, Servat-Medina et al (2015) [6] synthesized chitosan nanoparticles loaded with different concentrations of A. chica extract (10 to 25% relative to chitosan mass) for the treatment of skin ulcers. In 2020, our group reported synthesizing different types of chitosan/alginate (C/A) membranes to be used as controlled release systems of A. chica extract, as an alternative for the treatment of skin lesions [7]. C/A membranes are attractive because they are insoluble in water, stable to pH variations and capable of incorporating different bioactive agents into their matrix
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