Abstract

In the present work calcium alginate/poly (sodium acrylate) composite beads have been prepared by in situ formation of cross-linked poly (sodium acrylate) network, within the calcium alginate (CA) beads. The CA/poly (SA) beads have been found to be stable for more than 48 h, in the physiological fluid (PF) of pH 7.4, while the plain alginate beads disintegrated within a couple of hours. The water uptake of beads was investigated under various composition parameters such as the amount of alginate, concentration of ionic cross-linker Ca++ ions, monomer sodium acrylate (SA) contents, and degree of cross-linking. The beads also exhibited fair stability in the media of varying pH. Finally the release of model drug methylene blue (MB) was investigated. It was found that plain CA and CA/poly (SA) composite beads exhibited different release mechanisms.

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