Tailored alginate sponges loaded with κ-carrageenan beads for controlled release of curcumin

This study presents an innovative approach to develop and characterize an alginate sponge containing κ-carrageenan (κ-CRG) beads loaded with curcumin. The beads were fabricated using varying concentrations of κ-CRG, and their properties were extensively evaluated using inverted phase-contrast microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FTIR, swelling behavior, mass distribution, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro drug release and kinetics of drug release. Beads formulated with specific concentrations of κ-CRG that exhibited optimal performance were then integrated into an alginate sponge matrix, which underwent similar comprehensive testing procedures as the individual beads. The characterized beads displayed a spherical morphology, a notable swelling degree of approximately 146 %, excellent mass uniformity, encapsulation efficiencies higher than 90 % and drug release rate exceeding 70 %. Moreover, the alginate sponge formulation demonstrated a satisfactory drug release profile of 67.9 ± 0.6 %. In terms of drug release kinetics, the Higuchi model was the most effective in explaining the release of curcumin from beads and sponge. These findings underscore the potential of both the beads and the sponge as effective vehicles for the controlled delivery of curcumin, positioning them as promising candidates for pharmaceutical applications across various fields.