Ratio Of Alginate Research Articles

Layer-by-layer self-assembled liposomes prepared using sodium alginate and chitosan: Insights into vesicle characteristics and physicochemical stability

In this study, layer-by-layer self-assembled liposomes were prepared with different mixing ratios (3:7, 1:1, and 7:3) of sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan (CS), and the morphology, structure, and physicochemical properties of liposomes after layer-by-layer coating were investigated. After coating the liposomes with SA-CS layer-by-layer (S–C-L), the particle size of liposomes increased from 244.50 to 423.33 nm, the potential changed from negative to positive to 21.20 mV, and the PDI was only 0.393. In the S–C-L 7:3 formulation, the liposomes were uniformly distributed and spherical in size with a clear fingerprint structure. In addition, S–C-L reduced the number of hydrophobic regions within the molecule, allowing the phospholipid molecules to bind tightly into stacks, thus making the liposomes more stable. The S–C-L 7:3 formulation effectively improved the tolerance of liposomes to strong acids and bases, high-salt environments, and UV exposure, and maintained a constant particle size of 400 nm after 28 days of storage. The findings of this study might contribute to the development of polysaccharide layer-by-layer modification of liposomes for a more stable liposomal transport system.

Multifunctional applications of cellulose/sodium alginate aerogel material: Antibacterial, adsorption, and heat insulation

In this work, cellulose aerogel (CellA) was synthesized from raw cellulose derived from coconut peat and sodium alginate wherein zinc ion played as the binder agent. The investigation focused on the alternation of cellulose to sodium alginate ratio, which caused differentiation in characteristic aspects, mechanical strength, and antibacterial capability. Among them, the corresponding ratio of 10:1 (CellA-10 sample) was found to be the optimal one thanks to the prosperous bactericidal properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Besides, the fabricated material also possessed relatively applicable heat insulation of 0.064 W/m.K. Upon the surface modification with stearic acid, the material exhibited better hydrophobicity via the water contacting angle of 113o whilst its adsorption capacity towards organic liquids reaching up to 17 g/g. Conclusively, the obtained results suggest the highly promising synthesized CellA material in environmental remediation and antibacterial or heat insulation sectors.

Enhanced viability of probiotics in composite hydrogel beads

Composite hydrogel is common way to protect probiotics from harsh environment. The study designed and optimized double-saccharide composite hydrogel beads for the encapsulation of Companilactobacillus crustorum MN047 (C. crustorum MN047) by adjusting the combination ratios of low methoxyl pectin (LMP) and sodium alginate (SAG) and the concentrations of calcium chloride (CaCl2). Encapsulation efficiency of hydrogel beads ranged from 87.69% to 99.98%. Hydrogel beads significantly increased the viability of C. crustorum MN047 in the simulated gastrointestinal (the number of viable probiotics was more than 7 log CFU/g at simulated SIF for 4 h) and storage environments (the number of viable probiotics was more than 7 log CFU/g at 25 °C at day30). Rheological tests proved pectin-based hydrogel possessed stronger crosslinking degree than alginate-based hydrogel. FT-IR and SEM indicated C. crustorum MN047 was encapsulated successfully, and polyelectrolyte polymers along with Ca-crosslinking play an important role in the formation mechanism. These results are attributed to the design of probiotic encapsulation systems and the promotion of the exploitation of probiotic functional products.

Release behavior and biodegradability of controlled‐release potassium fertilizer encapsulated in starch–alginate matrix

AbstractThis work presents the fabrication of potassium chloride encapsulated in starch–alginate matrix, crosslinked by calcium chloride to form hydrogel bead. Sixteen formulations (S1–S16) were designed in four levels sodium alginate (SA 0.5% w/v to 2.0% w/v) and potassium chloride (KCl 5% w/v to 20% w/v) with 10% w/v starch and 0.75 M calcium chloride. The analysis reviewed that a higher concentration of sodium alginate, coupled with a lower KCl concentration, results in enhanced encapsulation efficiency. Notably, hydrogel beads formulated with higher concentrations of SA exhibited a more uniform, spherical shape with compact surfaces. Higher SA concentration has lower the swelling of the beads and therefore reduces its potassium release in general. In another word, with higher SA concentration, the release rate was at a better control to the expected release timeframe. On the contrary, it was also observed that the sample's dissolution in water after 24 h increased with the rising SA content. A higher concentration of sodium alginate led to an increased biodegradation rate, with the biodegradation rate increasing by 25% as the SA concentration was raised from 0.5% to 2% over a period of 5 days. In conclusion, this study represents a preliminary exploration into the viability of encapsulating potassium within a starch/SA matrix, with the optimal ratio of starch, alginate, and potassium was found to be 10:2:5. The significance of this work lies in its potential applications within agricultural practices, particularly in drought‐prone regions, owing to its hydrogel properties. By precisely tailoring the starch, alginate, and potassium ratios, this study opens avenues for further advancements in sustainable nutrient delivery systems.

Alginate-Gelatin Hydrogel Scaffolds; An Optimization of Post-Printing Treatment for Enhanced Degradation and Swelling Behavior.

The generation of 3D structures comprises three interlinked phases: material development, the printing process, and post-printing treatment. Numerous factors control all three phases, making the optimization of the entire process a challenging task. Until now, the state of the art has mainly focused on optimizing material processability and calibration of the printing process. However, after the successful Direct Ink Writing (DIW) of a hydrogel scaffold, the post-printing stage holds equal importance, as this allows for the treatment of the structure to ensure the preservation of its structural integrity for a duration that is sufficient to enable successful cell attachment and proliferation before undergoing degradation. Despite this stage's pivotal role, there is a lack of extensive literature covering its optimization. By studying the crosslinking factors and leveling the post-treatment settings of alginate-gelatin hydrogel, this study proposes a method to enhance scaffolds' degradation without compromising the targeted swelling behavior. It introduces an experimental design implementing the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) Design of Experiments (DoE), which elucidated the key parameters influencing scaffold degradation and swelling, and established an alginate ratio of 8% and being immersed for 15 min in 0.248 M CaCl2 as the optimal level configuration that generates a solution of 0.964 desirability, reaching a degradation time of 19.654 days and the swelling ratio of 50.00%.

Insight and mechanisms of tetracycline adsorption on sodium alginate/montmorillonite composite beads

The presence of antibiotics in soil and water raises great health concerns because they may increase the development of harmful antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, composite beads prepared from 2:1 or 1:1 ratios of montmorillonite (Mt) and sodium alginate (SA) were used to adsorb tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), an antibiotic commonly found in aqueous systems. The equilibrium time for TC adsorption onto the Mt/SA was 8 h, and the kinetic data were consistent with the pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption isotherm was described with the Langmuir equation. The maximum amounts of TC adsorbed were 745, 689, and 445 mg g−1 for the 2:1- and 1:1-Mt/SA and the original Mt, respectively. The Mt/SA composite beads exhibited porous structures; however, this did not play a key role in TC removal, as previously reported. Cation exchange was the major adsorption mechanism, and electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding between the SA and TC also contributed to TC adsorption on the Mt/SA composite beads. In addition, the migration of a small amount of TC into the inner spaces of the beads led to the intercalation of the TC in the Mt interlayers and enhanced TC adsorption by the Mt/SA composite beads.

Design and application of gel coagulation–spontaneous flotation integrated process in water treatment: “Clouds in water”

The gel coagulation–spontaneous flotation (GCSF) process designed in this paper mainly rely on dissolved gas in water rather than auxiliary gas equipment to achieve spontaneous flotation. Compared with the traditional coagulation-dissolved air flotation method, GCSF has more stable flotation efficiency and shorter operation cycle under conventional hydraulic conditions. In this study, the GCSF scheme was applied for surface water treatment, and its operating efficiency, mechanism of action, and environmental implications were explored systematically. The results illustrate that the dosage ratio of sodium alginate (SA) to aluminum sulfate (AS) should be controlled in the range of approximately 1.5:1–2.5:1, and SA should be added 15∼120 s before AS during the coagulation process. Under these conditions, the adsorption cross-linking between SA and Al3+ promoted the generation of gel flocs and effectively encapsulated the dissolved gasses, thereby achieving a stable spontaneous flotation process and 80%–95% removal of pollutants. The purification efficiency of GCSF was positively correlated with pH 4–9, which was attributed to the enhanced hydrophobicity of the chains of organic polymer groups. The residual SA and aluminum concentration in effluent were lower than 1 and 0.05 mg/L, respectively, which guarantee the ecological security of GCSF application. In addition, the results of density functional theory calculations revealed that -OH and -AlO6 in cross-linked flocs could adsorb dissolved oxygen synergistically, while -OH combined with oxygen had a stronger binding energy and stable adsorption.

A preliminary study of chemical property and thermal stability of potassium chloride encapsulated in starch-alginate matrix

A potassium controlled-release fertilizer was fabricated in a starch-alginate matrix by using calcium chloride as a cross-linker. 16 formulas were designed with varying amounts of alginate and potassium chloride with the same amount of starch and calcium chloride, and most of the formulas can form beads successfully. High sodium alginate and low potassium chloride assembled better shape and higher encapsulation efficiency. The highest encapsulation efficiency ratio of starch, sodium alginate, and potassium chloride was 5:1:10 in the 16 formulas. The bonding of alginate and starch, and calcium chloride were evidenced by FTIR, and the study of TGA revealed good thermal stability and compatibility between the polymers and potassium chloride.

Synergistic depolymerisation of alginate and chitosan by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) treatment in the presence of H2O2

Physically-induced depolymerisation procedures are often preferred for obtaining alginate and chitosan oligosaccharides as they either do not use or make minimal use of additional chemicals; therefore, separation of the final products is facile. In this work, solutions of three types of alginate with different mannuronic and guluronic acid residues ratio (M/G ratio) and molecular weights (Mw) and one type of chitosan were non-thermally processed by applying high hydrostatic pressures (HHP) up to 500 MPa (20 min) or pulsed electric fields (PEF) up to 25 kV cm−1 (4000 μm) in the absence or presence of 3 % hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The impact on the physicochemical properties of alginate and chitosan was investigated by rheology, GPC, XRD, FTIR, and 1H NMR. In the rheological investigations, the apparent viscosities of all samples decreased with increasing shear rate, indicating a non-Newtonian shear-thinning behaviour. GPC results reported Mw reductions that ranged between 8 and 96 % for all treatments. NMR results revealed that HHP and PEF treatment predominantly reduced the M/G ratio of alginate and the degree of deacetylation (DDA) of chitosan, whilst H2O2 promoted an increase in the M/G ratio in alginate and DDA of chitosan. Overall, the present investigation has demonstrated the feasibility of HHP and PEF for rapidly producing alginate and chitosan oligosaccharides.

Phase Behavior of Aqueous Mixtures of Sodium Alginate with Fish Gelatin: Effects of pH and Ionic Strength.

The phase behavior of aqueous mixtures of fish gelatin (FG) and sodium alginate (SA) and complex coacervation phenomena depending on pH, ionic strength, and cation type (Na+, Ca2+) were studied by turbidimetric acid titration, UV spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy for different mass ratios of sodium alginate and gelatin (Z = 0.01-1.00). The boundary pH values determining the formation and dissociation of SA-FG complexes were measured, and we found that the formation of soluble SA-FG complexes occurs in the transition from neutral (pHc) to acidic (pHφ1) conditions. Insoluble complexes formed below pHφ1 separate into distinct phases, and the phenomenon of complex coacervation is thus observed. Formation of the highest number of insoluble SA-FG complexes, based on the value of the absorption maximum, is observed at рHopt and results from strong electrostatic interactions. Then, visible aggregation occurs, and dissociation of the complexes is observed when the next boundary, pHφ2, is reached. As Z increases in the range of SA-FG mass ratios from 0.01 to 1.00, the boundary values of рНc, рHφ1, рHopt, and рHφ2 become more acidic, shifting from 7.0 to 4.6, from 6.8 to 4.3, from 6.6 to 2.8, and from 6.0 to 2.7, respectively. An increase in ionic strength leads to suppression of the electrostatic interaction between the FG and SA molecules, and no complex coacervation is observed at NaCl and CaCl2 concentrations of 50 to 200 mM.

Fabrication and characterization of bioprints with Lactobacillus crispatus for vaginal application

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterized by low levels of lactobacilli and overgrowth of potential pathogens in the female genital tract. Current antibiotic treatments often fail to treat BV in a sustained manner, and > 50% of women experience recurrence within 6 months post-treatment. Recently, lactobacilli have shown promise for acting as probiotics by offering health benefits in BV. However, as with other active agents, probiotics often require intensive administration schedules incurring difficult user adherence. Three-dimensional (3D)-bioprinting enables fabrication of well-defined architectures with tunable release of active agents, including live mammalian cells, offering the potential for long-acting probiotic delivery. One promising bioink, gelatin alginate has been previously shown to provide structural stability, host compatibility, viable probiotic incorporation, and cellular nutrient diffusion. This study formulates and characterizes 3D-bioprinted Lactobacillus crispatus-containing gelatin alginate scaffolds for gynecologic applications. Different weight to volume (w/v) ratios of gelatin alginate were bioprinted to determine formulations with highest printing resolution, and different crosslinking reagents were evaluated for effect on scaffold integrity via mass loss and swelling measurements. Post-print viability, sustained-release, and vaginal keratinocyte cytotoxicity assays were conducted. A 10:2 (w/v) gelatin alginate formulation was selected based on line continuity and resolution, while degradation and swelling experiments demonstrated greatest structural stability with dual genipin and calcium crosslinking, showing minimal mass loss and swelling over 28 days. 3D-bioprinted L. crispatus-containing scaffolds demonstrated sustained release and proliferation of live bacteria over 28 days, without impacting viability of vaginal epithelial cells. This study provides in vitro evidence for 3D-bioprinted scaffolds as a novel strategy to sustain probiotic delivery with the ultimate goal of restoring vaginal lactobacilli following microbiological disturbances.

Hierarchical fibrous collagen/poly(ε-caprolactone) structure fabricated with a 3D-printing process for tissue engineering applications

Hierarchical scaffolds have been extensively used in various tissue engineering applications as they can provide unique biofunctional properties, including biophysical cues, to successfully accomplish preferred cell attachment, growth, and differentiation depending on the target tissues. In this study, we propose a new strategy for fabricating hierarchical structures consisting of microfibrous collagen/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) bundles obtained using a 3D printing process supplemented with a unique bioink, plasma treatment, and collagen coating process. To obtain the hierarchical fibrous PCL structure, we used an alginate matrix hydrogel to form a microfibrous bundle of dispersed PCL components using elongational and shear stresses within a printing nozzle. By controlling various mixture ratios of alginate and PCL, processing temperature, pneumatic pressure, and nozzle moving speeds, a stable hierarchical structure consisting of PCL microfibers was obtained. To demonstrate the feasibility of hierarchical PCL-based structures coated with type I collagen, we investigated whether the construct affects the alignment and differentiation of myoblasts. The hierarchical fibrous biocomposite constructs presented a higher degree of myogenic activity than the control, which was fabricated using normal printing/collagen coating processes. Furthermore, the hierarchical PCL structures were further elaborated using 10 × simulated body fluid (SBF) resulting in a scaffold consisting of a hydroxyapatite (HA) layer. The hierarchical collagen/PCL/HA structures were evaluated with the aim of obtaining a functional scaffold that could efficiently induce osteogenesis to the human adipose stem cells (hASCs). These in vitro results suggest that the fibrous composite structure can provide enhanced osteogenic activity compared to the normally printed control (collagen/PCL/HA).

Alginate-Gelatin Self-Healing Hydrogel Produced via Static-Dynamic Crosslinking.

Alginate-gelatin hydrogels mimicking extracellular matrix (ECM) of soft tissues have been generated by static-dynamic double crosslinking, allowing fine control over the physical and chemical properties. Dynamic crosslinking provides self-healing and injectability attributes to the hydrogel and promotes cell migration and proliferation, while the static network improves stability. The static crosslinking was performed by enzymatic coupling of the tyrosine residues of gelatin with tyramine residues inserted in the alginate backbone, catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The dynamic crosslinking was obtained by functionalizing alginate with 3-aminophenylboronic acid which generates a reversible bond with the vicinal hydroxyl groups of the alginate chains. Varying the ratio of alginate and gelatin, hydrogels with different properties were obtained, and the most suitable for 3D soft tissue model development with a 2.5:1 alginate:gelatin molar ratio was selected. The selected hydrogel was characterized with a swelling test, rheology test, self-healing test and by cytotoxicity, and the formulation resulted in transparent, reproducible, varying biomaterial batch, with a fast gelation time and cell biocompatibility. It is able to modulate the loss of the inner structure stability for a longer time with respect to the formulation made with only covalent enzymatic crosslinking, and shows self-healing properties.

Effect of the uronic acid composition of alginate in alginate/collagen hybrid hydrogel on chondrocyte behavior.

Introduction: Developing a culture system that can effectively maintain chondrocyte phenotype and functionalization is a promising strategy for cartilage repair. Methods: An alginate/collagen (ALG/COL) hybrid hydrogel using different guluronate/mannuronate acid ratio (G/M ratio) of alginates (a G/M ratio of 64/36 and a G/M ratio of 34/66) with collagen was developed. The effects of G/M ratios on the properties of hydrogels and their effects on the chondrocytes behaviors were evaluated. Results: The results showed that the mechanical stiffness of the hydrogel was significantly affected by the G/M ratios of alginate. Chondrocytes cultured on Mid-G/M hydrogels exhibited better viability and phenotype preservation. Moreover, RT-qPCR analysis showed that the expression of cartilage-specific genes, including SOX9, COL2, and aggrecan was increased while the expression of RAC and ROCK1 was decreased in chondrocytes cultured on Mid-G/M hydrogels. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that Mid-G/M hydrogels provided suitable matrix conditions for cultivating chondrocytes and may be useful in cartilage tissue engineering. More importantly, the results indicated the importance of taking alginate G/M ratios into account when designing alginate-based composite materials for cartilage tissue engineering.

Preparation and characterization of nano- Fe(OH)3, its composites with two natural zeolites, and granulation of them for nitrate removal from polluted water

The development of a cost-efficient, highly effective, and granular shape adsorbent is highly desired for nitrate removal. In this study, two different Fe(OH)3 nanoparticles with amorphous and crystalline structures, and nanocomposites were successfully synthesized using the ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation. Both nanoparticles were scrutinized using FTIR, SEM, and XRD. Crystallized Fe(OH)3/zeolite nanocomposites were not efficient for nitrate removal;hence, the rest of the study was carried out with amorphous Fe(OH)3 nanoparticles (Am-Fe(OH)3). Clinoptilolite and analcime were acid-washed and used as a support for synthesized Am-Fe(OH)3 nanoparticles. Nanocomposites of clinoptilolite and analcime were abbreviated as Fe(OH)3/Clin and Fe(OH)3/Anc, respectively. The nanocomposites were characterized by BET, FTIR, SEM, EDS, and XRD techniques. Subsequently, granules of the above-mentioned nanocomposites were prepared using the wet gelation method and alginate. Two crucial features of pH and adsorbent:alginate ratio, were assessed and optimized as 11–12 and 1:3, respectively. The performance of granules were investigated regarding pH, time, and adsorbent dosage. Fe(OH)3/Clin and Fe(OH)3/Anc granules removed 96.82% and 34.02% of nitrate from a contaminated solution with initial concertation of 50 mg l−1. Overall, Fe(OH)3/Clin granule was an effective adsorbent for nitrate removal. The maximum adsorption capacity of Fe(OH)3/Anc and Fe(OH)3/Clin were 0.4443 mg g−1 and 5.6211 mg g−1 for 0.2 g of each adsorbent, respectively. Both adsorbents displayed good compatibility with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Tunable chitosan-alginate capsules for a controlled release of crystallisation inhibitors in mortars

Plasters and renders used in historic monuments are vulnerable to degradation caused by salt weathering. Crystallisation inhibitors (molecules/ions that alter salt crystallisation) mixed into mortars have shown promising results in mitigating salt damage by inhibiting salt crystallisation, promoting salt transport to the evaporating surface, and modifying crystal habit. However, past research suggests that inhibitors easily leach out from mortars, meaning their long-term positive effect is lost. Encapsulation of an inhibitor within a mortar is a potential solution to minimise leaching. Herein, capsules composed of a polyelectrolyte complex of calcium alginate coated in chitosan are investigated for the controlled diffusive release of sodium ferrocyanide, a known NaCl crystallisation inhibitor. Capsules with varying chitosan-calcium alginate ratios are prepared using the extrusion dripping technique. The release of the inhibitor from capsules in solutions of various pH values ranging from 7–13 is investigated. Results show that increasing the capsule’s chitosan to calcium alginate ratio reduces the inhibitor release for all studied solution pH values compared to pure calcium-alginate capsules. Therefore, a controlled inhibitor release can be obtained by tuning the chitosan-alginate ratio. In future, additional tests will be performed to find suitable capsule compositions for optimising their performance when mixed in mortars.

Colonic budesonide delivery by multistimuli alginate/Eudragit® FS 30D/inulin-based microspheres as a paediatric formulation

The purpose of this study was to develop an oral paediatric formulation of budesonide (BUD) for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. A formulation realized as microspheres using the prilling/vibration technique is proposed as an innovative drug delivery system ensuring BUD-specific colonic release in response to different triggers, such as pH, transit time, and resident microbiota. BUD, or the inclusion complex BUD/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, was loaded into microspheres consisting of different ratios of alginate, Eudragit® FS 30D, with or without inulin.Sixteen formulations are produced that show high yields and encapsulation efficiencies, ensuring a homogenous distribution of BUD into the matrix. Microsphere diameters of <655 μm and promising flow properties make these systems suitable for oral administration to children. Swelling and drug release studies in simulated gastrointestinal fluid are used to demonstrate the response of microspheres to time and pH triggers. Studies in faecal medium highlight that drug release from microspheres with inulin is also influenced by microbiota.

Hybrid gelatin-sulfated alginate scaffolds as dermal substitutes can dramatically accelerate healing of full-thickness diabetic wounds

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are defined as chronic and non-healing wounds that cause skin disorders. Here, we introduce a novel biodegradable gelatin/sulfated alginate hybrid scaffold as a dermal substitute to accelerate the healing of full-thickness diabetic ulcers in a diabetic mouse model. The hybrid scaffold possessing different weight ratios of sulfated alginate, from 10 % up to 50 %, were prepared through chemical crosslinking by carbodiimide chemistry and further freeze-drying. Based on the in vitro cytotoxicity experiments, the hybrid scaffolds not only showed no cytotoxicity, but the cell growth also dramatically increased by increasing the sulfated alginate content. Finally, the pathology of hybrid scaffolds as the dermal substitutes for healing of full-thickness diabetic wounds showed the more appropriate formation of epidermal layer, more homogeneous distribution of collagenous tissue and lower penetration of immune cells for the hybrid scaffolds-treated wounds.

Development and characterization of a novel biodegradable laboratory-made pullulan blended films

Aim: To develop and characterize laboratory-made pullulan blended film using pullulan obtained from yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans mixed with gelatin and sodium alginate. Methodology: The laboratory-made pullulan blended (LPB) and standard pullulan blend (SPB) films were prepared by the solution casting method. Physical and mechanical properties were performed to examine the moisture content, film thickness, film solubility, tensile strength and elongation at break. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscope techniques were performed to analyze the interaction between the polymeric blends. Results: The polymeric blends had excellent miscibility and compatibility with the pullulan. The addition of glycerol to pullulan blended films improved the solubilization time in water at 125 sec. The blending ratio of pullulan, sodium alginate and gelatin led to lower rates of thickness, moisture content and higher elongation at break. Field Emission-SEM and FTIR analyses revealed that both sodium alginate and gelatin were compatible with pullulan. XRD results confirmed that pullulan blended films possess an amorphous structure that readily absorbs the moisture content. The biodegradability test confirmed the potential use of pullulan blended films as biodegradable plastic film. Interpretation: The laboratory-made pullulan blended films exhibited improved mechanical and water barrier properties due to strong interaction between the plasticizer and polymer matrixes which enhances the flexibility of pullulan blended films for the fabrication of biodegradable plastic film. Key words: Aureobasidium pullulans, Biodegradable plastic film, Microscopic techniques, Pullulan blended films

Ionically Cross-linked Pectin-alginate Hydrogel Beads for Prolonged Release of Glibenclamide

Background: Glibenclamide is a second-generation sulfonylurea extensively associated with the therapy of diabetes mellitus. A sustained release of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract may aid in maintaining therapeutic range for an extended period of time. Alginate and pectin are two commonly used biopolymers in the field of drug delivery with favourable biodegradation and biocompatibility. Materials and Methods: In the present study, pectin-alginate hydrogel beads were developed for intestinal delivery of glibenclamide. A barium ion (Ba+2) induced ionic gelation technique was employed for synthesising pH sensitive beads by varying the ratio of sodium alginate and pectin. The FTIR study confirmed the compatibility between drugs and polymers. The developed beads were evaluated for scanning electron microscopic study, drug entrapment efficiency (DEE), bead size, swelling ratio, and in-vitro dissolution study. Results: The microscopic images exhibited hemispherical shaped beads with cracked and rough surfaces. The DEE study reported to vary between 78.38 ± 1.17 % and 92.08 ± 0.64 %. The mean size of the bead was found to be 668.81 ± 2.10 μm to 984.62 ± 2.84 μm. A pH dependent swelling was observed, which indicated a restricted water uptake in an acidic medium and an increased water uptake in alkaline pH. The in-vitro dissolution study demonstrated a sustained release of drug with increasing pectin concentration up to 12 h. Conclusion: The study findings reported the successful development of Ba+2 ions cross-linked pectin-alginate hydrogel beads for sustained delivery of glibenclamide.