PRODUCTION OF GANODERMA LUCIDUM EXTRACT LOADED GELATIN-SODIUM ALGINATE MICROSPHERES, INVESTIGATION OF RELEASE KINETICS AT DIFFERENT pH VALUES AND EVALUATION OF KINETIC MODELS

Abstract

In this study, pH sensitive microsphere polymeric drug carriers were produced by using biodegradable natural gelatin and sodium alginate polymers. Microspheres were loaded with prepared Ganoderma lucidum extract that is a medicinal mushroom and has the potential to be used in several diseases’ treatment. Extract release kinetics of the microspheres were examined by spectrophotometric method by using an UV spectrometer. Buffer solutions with different pH values were used as release medium for examination of drug release kinetics of the produced microspheres. The Ganoderma lucidum release of microspheres was presented in terms of percent cumulative release (CR%) defined as the percentage ratio of the instantaneous amount of Ganoderma lucidum released at a certain time of incubation to the initial amount of Ganoderma lucidum loadings. As a result, it was seen that the release of the extract accelerated as pH of the release medium increased and the fastest extract release was observed in the pH 7. The release kinetic models of the microspheres were examined. The release kinetics of microspheres fitted Higuchi model for pH 1.3, pH 5.0 and pH 6.0 and first-order model for pH 3.0 and pH 7.0.