Chitosan-alginate Polyelectrolyte Complex Research Articles

Encapsulation of quercetin fraction from Musa balbisiana banana blossom in chitosan alginate solution, its optimization and characterizations

This study comprises the isolation of quercetin from the bhimkol banana (Musa balbisiana) blossom, encapsulation, and its characterizations. An isolated quercetin rich fraction was obtained from HPLC followed by column chromatography and subsequently encapsulated with chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complex at optimum encapsulation conditions obtained by ant colony optimization. Quercetin fraction and encapsulated quercetin were characterized for their physicochemical properties (by HPLC, FTIR, NMR, XRD, Dynamic Light Scattering, and release study). The yield and purity of isolated quercetin rich fractions were 2.35 ± 0.08 μg/ml and 83.12 ± 0.31 %, respectively. After the optimization of encapsulation, quercetin 0.2 %, sodium alginate 4 %, chitosan 0.5 %, and agitation at 300 rpm were found to be the optimal conditions resulting in higher encapsulation efficiency (EE, 84.54 %). EE was significantly improved by a slight increase in sodium alginate, and agitation. Encapsulated quercetin revealed good pH resistance by releasing 68.27 mg QE/g quercetin in simulated gastric fluid at 60 min. Microbeads of encapsulated quercetin showed the structural bond stretching of encapsulating materials and quercetin in FTIR spectra (stretching at 1511 cm−1, 1380 cm−1, and 1241 cm−1 are attributed to the stretching vibration of CO in aromatic rings, and bending vibration of OH bond in phenols). An average particle size of 2.71 μm exhibited the microgel behavior of microbeads (by XRD). The present study on the underutilized variety of banana blossoms has diverse applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries that will productively exhibit effective drug delivery properties.

Design of bioactive and biomimetic scaffolds based on chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complexes for tissue engineering

The replacement and regeneration of biological tissues by fabricating three-dimensional functionalized constructs that can improve material interaction with cells is an important challenge of tissue engineering. In this study, bioactive and biomimetic scaffolds based on chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) were fabricated by freeze-drying method and then crosslinked with CaCl2. Various chitosan-alginate (CS-AL) molar ratios were used to obtain PECs with different structural and mechanical properties. The CS1-AL2.3 scaffold showed to possess the best mechanical properties (8 MPa) and good pore morphology with an average size of 100–150 μm. After the crosslinking process, a less porous structure but with higher elastic modulus (30 MPa) was obtained. To make matrix bioactive and biomimetic, the CS1-AL2.3 system was first functionalized with 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid (HCAF) and then with PySO3 or Heparin to introduce groups/molecules mimicking the extracellular matrix. While the antioxidant properties of the scaffolds containing HCAF improved by 3 orders of magnitude, compared to the non-functionalized matrix, the introduction of sulfonic groups into the bioactive scaffold made the structure more porous and hydrophilic with respect to the heparinized one also favoring the penetration and proliferation of fibroblasts into the scaffold. These results indicate the potential of these novel systems for tissue engineering.

Alginate–Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes As Carriers for Fluorinated Tetraphenylporphyrin in Photosensitizing Systems of Singlet Oxygen Generation

Alginate–Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes As Carriers for Fluorinated Tetraphenylporphyrin in Photosensitizing Systems of Singlet Oxygen Generation

Alginate–Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes As Carriers for Fluorinated Tetraphenylporphyrin in Photosensitizing Systems of Singlet Oxygen Generation

Water-insoluble photosensitizing (PS) systems active in the generation of singlet 1O2 oxygen are obtained by immobilizing fluorinated tetraphenylporphyrin (FTPP) from a solution in acetone on films of polyelectrolyte complexes based on sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan (CT), and on solid water-insoluble gels of alginate and chitosan. The obtained polymer PS systems are used to establish the intensity of the photoluminescence of singlet oxygen in D2O and the activity of the photocatalytic oxidation of tryptophan in water. It is shown that the photocatalytic activity in the tryptophan oxidation of fluorinated tetraphenylporphyrin immobilized on a SA–CT polyelectrolyte complex and alginate solid gel is higher than that of FTPP immobilized on chitosan solid gel. Spectral-luminescent properties of polysaccharide–FTPP systems and the surface structure of carriers are studied via atomic force microscopy to determine the mechanism of the increase in porphyrin activity when it is fixed on alginate-containing carriers. It is suggested that aspects of the supramolecular structure of solid gels are responsible for the increase in the photocatalytic activity of FTPP upon immobilization on alginate-containing polysaccharide systems.

Effects of Salt on Phase Behavior and Rheological Properties of Alginate-Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes.

Oppositely charged polyelectrolytes often form polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) due to the association through electrostatic interactions. Obtaining PECs using natural, biocompatible polyelectrolytes is of interest in the food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries. In this work, PECs were prepared from two biopolymers, positively charged chitosan and negatively charged alginate. We investigate the changes in the structure and properties of PECs by adding sodium chloride (salt doping) to the system. The shear modulus of PECs can be tuned from ∼10 to 104 Pa by changing the salt concentration. The addition of salt led to a decrease in the water content of the complex phase with increasing shear modulus. However, at a very high salt concentration, the shear modulus of the complex phase decreased but did not lead to the liquid coacervate formation, typical of synthetic polyelectrolytes. This difference in phase behavior has likely been attributed to the hydrophobicity of chitosan and long semiflexible alginate and chitosan chains that restrict the conformational changes. Large amplitude oscillatory shear experiments captured nonlinear responses of PECs. The compositions of the PECs, determined as a function of salt concentration, signify the preferential partitioning of salt into the complex phase. Small-angle X-ray scattering of the salt-doped PECs indicates that the Kuhn length and radius of the alginate-chitosan associated structure qualitatively agree with the captured phase behavior and rheological data. This study provides insights into the structure-property as a function of salt concentration of natural polymer-based PECs necessary for developing functional materials from natural polyelectrolytes.

Development of a three-dimensional in vitro blood-brain barrier using the chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complex as the extracellular matrix

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) consist of a spontaneous assembly of oppositely charged polysaccharides. PECs can be used to obtain a hydrogel tissue scaffold in tissue culture. In this study, it is aimed to use PEC as a blood-brain barrier (BBB) model scaffold. By mixing polycationic chitosan and polyanionic alginate solutions at a certain ratio it was obtained a 3D hydrogel scaffold and mimicked in vivo environment of the tissue. The PEC hydrogel scaffold’s chemical, physical, and mechanical characterizations were performed with FTIR, DSC, DMA, and Micro-CT analyses. In order to develop an in vitro BBB model, the human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) and mouse astrocyte cell line (C8-D1A) were mixed into a hydrogel, which is the abluminal side of the BBB. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HBEC-5i) were seeded on the hydrogel, and it was aimed to mimic the luminal side of the BBB. The characterization of the BBB model was determined by measuring the TEER, observation of the cell morphology with SEM, performing the permeability of Lucifer Yellow, and observation of tight junction proteins with immunofluorescence staining. As a result, HBEC-5i cells expressed tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and Claudin-5), showed TEER of 340 ± 22 Ω.cm2, and the Lucifer Yellow permeability of 7.4 × 10−7 ± 2.7 × 10−7 cm/s, which was suitable for use as an in vitro BBB model. Using a hydrogel PEC composed of chitosan and alginate as an extracellular matrix increased the direct interaction of endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons with each other and thus obtained a much less permeable model compared to other standard transwell models. Graphical abstract [Formula: see text]

Clindamycin phosphate and bone morphogenetic protein-7 loaded combined nanoparticle-graft and nanoparticle-film formulations for alveolar bone regeneration – An in vitro and in vivo evaluation

Commonly utilized techniques for healing alveolar bone destruction such as the use of growth factors, suffering from short half-life, application difficulties, and the ability to achieve bioactivity only in the presence of high doses of growth factor. The sustained release of growth factors through a scaffold-based delivery system offers a promising and innovative tool in dentistry. Furthermore, it is suggested to guide the host response by using antimicrobials together with growth factors to prevent recovery and achieve ideal regeneration. Herein, the aim was to prepare and an in vitro - in vivo evaluation of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) and clindamycin phosphate (CDP) loaded polymeric nanoparticles, and their loading into the alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte complex film or alloplastic graft to accelerate hard tissue regeneration. PLGA nanoparticles containing CDP and BMP-7, separately or together, were prepared using the double emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Through in vitro assays, it was revealed that spherical particles were homogeneously distributed in the combination formulations, and sustained release could be achieved for >12 weeks with all formulations. Also, results from the micro-CT and histopathological analyses indicated that CDP and BMP-7 loaded nanoparticle-film formulations were more effective in treatment than the nanoparticle loaded grafts.

Improvement the performance of TFC membranes by deposition a cationic/anionic polyelectrolyte onto their partially hypochlorite-degraded surfaces

Desalination using thin-film composite reverse osmosis (TFC-RO) polyamide (PA) membranes has been predominating for decades to reduce rising water demand. Organic fouling, which causes blocking of the membrane pores and hence a decline in permeability, is one of the main drawbacks of these membranes. Membrane surface modification has been a promising technique for enhancing flux permeability and antifouling characteristics. In this study, a novel coating process to modify the TFC membrane surface was developed. The coating is based on the deposition of supramolecular biodegradable cationic (chitosan, CS), anionic (sodium alginate, SA), and/or chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complexes onto the membranes surface using a layer-by-layer technique. To favor the deposition of the first layer of CS on the surface, the membranes first underwent a chlorine treatment to obtain more negative charges on the PA active layer. Different parameters of chlorination time and concentration of sodium hypochlorite, and concentration and time of the supramolecular deposition onto the membrane surface were studied. The appropriate conditions for the modification process were found to be as follows; NaOCl concentration of 5000 ppm, chlorination time of one hour, and polymer ratio of 1:1 (1000 ppm each). The chemical composition was confirmed using XPS and ATR-FTIR, and surface features were observed using SEM, zeta potential, and contact angle. The modified membrane was observed to be more hydrophilic with a twice increment of the water flux, 48 L/m2.h compared to 24.2 L/m2.h of the pristine membrane, and an insignificant change of salt rejection when treating a 5000 mg/L NaCl solution. The results showed that the coated membrane exhibited superior performance compared to the pristine membrane. In terms of antifouling properties, the coated membrane exhibited superior performance compared to the pristine membrane. Because the process is simple and all polymers are biodegradable, the proposed surface treatment could be a promising technique for membranes modification.

Application of mathematical modelling to alginate chitosan polyelectrolyte complexes for the prediction of system behavior with Venlafaxine HCl as a model charged drug

PurposeThis work aimed to develop and analyze the performance of chitosan/alginate polyelectrolyte complex (PEC). Multiple regression and Lab fit curve fitting were applied to derive empirical models for the prediction of zeta potential of plain systems as a function of alginate chitosan ratio. Venlafaxine-HCl was loaded as a model charged drug and empirical models for prediction of its release as a function of time were also derived. MethodsCoacervation method was used for the preparation of green PECs. Preliminary studies were conducted to optimize the preparation method. Pre-adjustment of the pH of alginate and chitosan sols enabled the formation of PECs at alginate/chitosan ratios starting from 1:9 to 9:1. On mixing of alginate and chitosan sols, equal volume dilution method produced spherical particles, while direct mixing method gave fibrous particles. Twenty-seven PECs nanoparticle formulae were prepared using nine alginate/chitosan ratios and three levels of total polymer concentrations. ResultsStatistical analysis showed that Zeta potential of the nanoparticle was significantly dependent on alginate/chitosan ratio, while particle size was a function of total polymer concentration. Nine fiber formulae were prepared and evaluated for their appearance and zeta potential. Venlafaxine-HCl release followed anomalous transport mechanism. FT-IR and DSC studies confirmed complexation at the carboxylate and amine site at alginate and chitosan respectively. ConclusionChitosan/alginate PECs were successfully obtained without a cross-linker and empirical equations were obtained to help finding the best composition for loading charged drugs and to predict their release profiles.

Polyelectrolyte Complex Hydrogels with Controlled Mechanics Affect Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation Relevant to Growth Plate Injuries.

The growth plate is a complex cartilage structure in long bones that mediates growth in children. When injured, the formation of a "bony bar" can occur which impedes normal growth and can cause angular deformities or growth arrest. Current treatments for growth plate injuries are limited and result in poor patient outcomes, necessitating research toward novel treatments that can prevent bony bar formation and stimulate cartilage regeneration. This study investigates alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) hydrogels as an injectable biomaterial system to prevent bony bar formation. Biomaterial properties including stiffness and degradation are quantified, and the effect that material properties have on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) fate is quantified in vitro. Specifically, this study aims to elucidate the effectiveness of biomaterial-based control over the differentiation behavior of MSCs toward osteogenic or chondrogenic lineages using biochemical metabolite assays and quantitative real time PCR. Further, the PEC hydrogels are employed in a rat growth plate injury model to determine their effectiveness in preventing bony bar formation in vivo. Results indicate that hydrogel composition and material properties affect the differentiation tendency of MSCs in vitro, and the PEC hydrogels show promise as an injectable biomaterial for growth plate injuries.

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF SELENIUM NANOPARTICLES IN NATURAL POLYSACCHARIDES MATRIX

Selenium nanoparticles were obtained by reduction of sodium selenite in aqueous solutions of nonstoichiometric alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte complexes. Amorphous red nanosized selenium, formed as a result of the reaction, were characterized by maximum absorption at 256 nm. The process of formation and morphological characteristics of them were studied at different mass ratio of the components in the selenium-polysaccharide complex (in the range from 0.01 to 0.10). The morphological, dimensional, and spectral characteristics of obtained selenium nanoparticles were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV spectroscopy. The sample of nanoselenium was shown to consist of single nanoparticles, mostly spherical or partially elongated shapes, with an average size of 40 nm. The replacement of alginate (no more than 10%) with chitosan causes a significant increase in the stability of selenium nanoparticles, preventing them against aggregation and color change for three months. The biotoxicity of the synthesized nanoselenium was studied using Aliivibrio fischeri F1 bioluminescent assay. Selenium nanosamples were found to have no any inhibitory effect on bacterial bioluminescence and growth and thus have neither acute nor chronic biotoxicity. On contrary, sodium selenite, used for a comparison, decreased the bioluminescence of A. fischeri F1 at concentrations more than 100 mg/L. The values of NA2SeO3 half maximal effective concentration (EC50) were measured to be 420-820 mg/L at 15-60 minutes of incubation. Chronic biotoxicity of sodium selenite was manifested at concentrations more than 30 mg/L, and at 300 mg/L and higher led to a complete suppression of A. fischeri F1 growth and bioluminescence. Experimental study of biological properties of obtained selenium nanoparticles revealed an increase in seed germination and vigor of pea (Pisum sativum L.) of Madonna variety and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) of Kuzen variety, as well as an increase in the dry matter mass of their roots and aerial parts. A high activity of growth processes for the studied crops was noted at a nanoselenium concentration of 20 mg/l.

Preparation of Polyelectrolyte Complex Films of Chitosan-Alginate Incorporated by Eugenol and its Potency as an Antioxidant Packaging

Preparation of PEC chitosan-alginate films incorporated by eugenol has been investigated. Incorporation of eugenol in chitosan-alginate films was conducted by using the different concentration of eugenol including 0.25% 0.5%, and 1% (% w/v). The effect of eugenol incorporation in chitosan-alginate films was investigated through some properties of the films such as tensile strength, elongation at break, transparency value, and water vapor permeability. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of eugenol incorporation as an active compound of the films was investigated from antioxidant activity of chitosan-alginate films incorporated eugenol. Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) films of chitosan-alginate was occurred through molecular interaction between polycationic groups of chitosan and polyanionic groups of alginate. The formation of chitosan-alginate PEC films was synthesized at pH ± 4.0. Based on FTIR analysis, the ionic interaction between amine groups (–NH3+) and carboxylate groups (–COO¬) formed strongly. Characterization of films also indicated that PEC films of chitosan-alginate incorporated of eugenol was formed. Study showed that PEC chitosan-alginate films had good mechanical properties. Antioxidant activity assay through fixed reaction time method using DPPH radical (α,α-difenil-β- pikrilhidrazil) resulted in good percentage of radical scavenging activity (%RSA) from the films. The E3 films which contain 1% eugenol has 55.99% of RSA value in 96 hours.

Manufacturing of a Composite Based on a Mixture of Calcium Phosphates and an Alginate–Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complex

Composites have been manufactured based on a mixture of calcium phosphates and an alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte complex (PEC). The properties of these composites can be tuned by varying the filler/matrix ratio and drying temperature, so these materials may be regarded as potentially usable in orthopedics and traumatology. The composition and morphology of the manufactured samples and their dynamic dissolution have been studied. The embedding of a powder material into the PEC matrix does not change the matrix composition, but increases the resorption rate of the sample. Optimal synthetic conditions have been chosen for the composites, namely, the filler/matrix ratio and the drying temperature and time.

Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan–Alginate Polyelectrolyte Complexes Loaded with Antibacterial Thyme Oil Nanoemulsions

Biomedical industries are attempting to utilize natural materials, as they are bio-compatible, non-toxic, and show bioactive properties, like antimicrobial activity. In this study, natural polyelectrolyte complexed chitosan/alginate films (PECs) were prepared via a casting/solvent evaporation technique, and their characteristics and drug release properties were investigated. PEC films made with two different overall polymer contents, 0.4 and 1 w/v%, were loaded with thyme oil nanoemulsion as drug carrier. The structure of the films was studied by FTIR and optical and scanning electron microscopy. Prepared PEC films had good mechanical and water vapor permeability properties. Release of the thyme oil from the pH-sensitive PEC films (TM-PEC) was detected and followed by UV spectroscopy. The results indicated that the drug release rate of TM-PEC films was the fastest when the chitosan content was 1 %w/v, and various mathematical models were analyzed for investigating the drug release mechanism. Antibacterial tests were performed by counting the number of surviving gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The in vitro test indicated the limitation Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) growth in the presence of TM-PEC films. The MTT test showed more cell viability of the TM-PEC film in comparison with that of the PEC film without TM. Based on the measured physical and antibacterial properties, the chitosan–alginate PEC films loaded with antibacterial essential oils can be considered for biomedical applications, such as wound dressings or controlled release systems.

Alginate-chitosan PEC scaffolds: A useful tool for soft tissues cell therapy.

In this study we evaluate macroporous scaffolds made of alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) as tools to optimize the results of soft tissues cell therapy. Cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has become attractive for tissue repair and regeneration in a number of acute and chronic injuries. Unfortunately their low retention and/or survival after injection limit their beneficial effects. A biomaterial-assisted implantation, providing cells a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment is a promising strategy. To this purpose, we designed a family of PEC scaffolds, and studied if they could meet the requirement of such application. Xray tomography showed that all PEC scaffolds present an interconnected macroporosity, and both rheology and tensile measurements reveal optimized mechanical properties (higher storage moduli and Young moduli) compared to alginate reference scaffolds. In vitro assays demonstrated their ability to allow MSC retention (higher than 90%), long-term viability and FGF2 secretion. Then, we used a skeletal muscle implantation model to assess the biological response to scaffolds graft, and showed that they support in vivo vascular formation within the implant-derived tissue. The combination of alginate/chitosan PEC scaffolds architecture and angiogenic potential make them appear as interesting tools to optimize MSC therapy results in soft tissues.

Inhibitive Determination of Hg(II) in Aqueous Solution Using Urease Amperometric Biosensor

An amperometric biosensor for the indirect determination of Hg(II) has been developed based on inhibition of urease (EC 3.5.1.5) immobilized into alginate–chitosan polyelectrolyte complexes membrane. The biosensor response was monitored by following the reduction peak of hydrolyzed urea at around -0.15 V. The amperometric biosensor has a dynamic range 40–90 ppb Hg(II) with limit of detection of 66.45 ppb toward Hg(II) ions, repeatability (CV) value of 0.86% and only Ag(I) as the main potential interference. The sensor shows a stable and reproducible response for more than 2 weeks when it stored dry at 4 °C. The analytical results of Hg(II)-spiked water sample showed a good agreement with those obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry method, suggesting that the developed method may be applied in the determination of Hg(II) in the water samples.

Synthesis of Alginate-Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complex (PEC) Membrane and Its Physical-Mechanical Properties

Synthesis of alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte membrane and the determination of the physical-mechanical properties were carried out. Alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte complex membrane can be made by mixing hydrosol alginate and chitosan hydrosol with a ratio of 1: 1 at pH 5.28. Membranes of alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte complexes produced have physical-mechanical properties including load, elongation and elasticity, water absorption and resistance better than the constituent polymers. The results of FTIR spectroscopy analysis showed that there was an electrostatic interaction between alginate and chitosan through protonated amine groups of chitosan and carboxylic groups from alginate. Surface analyses by SEM showed that morphology of alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte complex membrane was different with single membrane morphology

Towards wound dressings with improved properties: Effects of poly(dimethylsiloxane) on chitosan-alginate films loaded with thymol and beta-carotene

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of poly(dimethylsiloxane) on the mechanical properties of chitosan-alginate (CA) polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with potential application as wound dressing biomaterials. For that purpose, different amounts of poly(dimethylsiloxane) were incorporated during the formulation of the PECs. Results showed that the highest tensile strength was observed when using 0.1 g of poly(dimethylsiloxane) per gram of PEC (CAS10). This formulation was also non-hemolytic, capable of inducing thrombus formation to potentially reduce bleeding, and additionally presented high stability when exposed to physiological fluids and/or conditions simulating patient bathing. To improve its wound healing capacity, this formulation was loaded with thymol and beta-carotene (anesthetic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds) by the supercritical carbon dioxide impregnation/deposition (SSI/D) method at 250 bar and 45 °C for 14 h and at two depressurization rates (5 and 10 bar/min). The PECs were also loaded by conventional impregnation in solution for comparison purposes. Higher bioactive loadings, of 1.8 ± 0.2 and 1.3 ± 0.03 μg per milligram of PEC for thymol and beta-carotene, respectively, were observed when using SSI/D and a higher depressurization rate (10 bar/min). These values do not correspond to the maximum loaded amount of each bioactive, which were strongly retained in the PEC structure due to favorable bioactive-polymer interactions, originating matrices that should present a more sustained release during in vivo applications.

Influence of the incorporation of the antimicrobial agent polyhexamethylene biguanide on the properties of dense and porous chitosan-alginate membranes

This work is a continuation of a previous study which described the development of dense and porous chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complexes through the addition of different amounts of Pluronic F68 to the polymeric mixture. The present study consisted in the incorporation of an antimicrobial agent, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), to the previously developed system. PHMB was incorporated at 1 and 10% (w/w) with high incorporation efficiencies, varying from 72 to 86%. Release profiles in phosphate buffered saline were evaluated using the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation, which suggested a quasi-Fickian diffusion mechanism for all obtained formulations. The maximum release percentage was approximately 15% as a result from the high affinity between PHMB and the polysaccharides. The obtained polyelectrolyte complexes were able to prevent the growth of both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on their surfaces, being considered potentially effective wound dressings.

Fabrication of chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complexed hydrogel for controlled release of cilnidipine: a statistical design approach

In the present investigation, fabrication and statistical optimization of chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) beads were performed for controlled delivery of Cilnidipine (CIL). PEC beads containing CIL were prepared by ionic cross-linking with calcium chloride. A statistical optimization was performed by employing a 32 full factorial design. Graphical optimization using overlay plot provides optimum combination of both the factors with the desired ranges of response. The optimum formulation of CIL (CB-O) was developed employing sodium alginate (2·2%w/v) and chitosan (1·2% w/v). CB-O formulation showed particle size (mm) =1·62 ± 0·42; DEE (%) = 90·21 ± 1·66; and drug release (%) = 89·58 ± 1·93; furthermore, solid state characterization by DSC, SEM, and XRD analysis reveals uniform dispersion of drug in polymer matrix. Controlled release CIL beads may find future perspectives in enhancing patient compliance by the abrupt reduction in side effects and dose frequency owing to effective therapeutic efficacy as indicated by the in-vitro study.