Alginate-konjac glucomannan-chitosan beads as controlled release matrix

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Controlled release systems are crucial for effective drug delivery.
• Alginate and chitosan are widely used biopolymers for bead formulation.
• Incorporating novel polysaccharides can improve bead properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize controlled release beads using alginate (ALG), konjac glucomannan (KGM), and chitosan (CHI).
• To evaluate the effect of KGM on drug payload and release kinetics.
• To investigate the influence of KGM on bead structure and swelling properties.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of ALG-KGM-CHI beads using model proteins (bovine serum albumin, insulin).
• Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy for structural analysis.
• In vitro drug release studies at different pH conditions (acidic and neutral).
• Water of hydration studies to assess swelling behavior.

Main Results:

• KGM incorporation increased drug payload and extended protein release from 1 hour (ALG-CHI) to 3 hours (ALG-KGM-CHI) at pH 7.4.
• ALG-KGM-CHI beads exhibited increased protein leakage in 0.1 N HCl.
• Swelling behavior differed in acidic (higher for ALG-KGM-CHI) versus alkaline (higher for ALG-CHI) solutions.
• Gelling ion concentration significantly impacted release rate and gel structure.

Conclusions:

• Konjac glucomannan improves the drug-loading capacity and controlled release performance of alginate-chitosan beads.
• The inclusion of KGM influences bead swelling and structural integrity, affecting protein diffusion.
• ALG-KGM-CHI beads show potential for pH-responsive drug delivery, with enhanced retention in neutral environments but susceptibility to leakage in acidic conditions.