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Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Generation of Alginate Microspheres for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 12, 2012
Enhanced Alginate Microparticles Fabricated by a Microfluidic System for Local Mesalamine Delivery to Inflammatory
Shima Ostovar1, Mohammad Amin Zaker2, Mohammad Akrami3
1Biotechnology Research Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran 14147613131, Iran.
None:
Mesalamine (Mes) is a first-line anti-inflammatory agent extensively used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Mes can be locally delivered using alginate-based microparticles as a pH-sensitive drug delivery system. In this study, we enhanced Alg microparticles by synthesizing an Alg-Kappa-carrageenan block copolymer using a biocompatible method with citric acid. The Alg-CA-κCar microparticles were fabricated on microfluidic chips and coated with chitosan (CS) to improve the encapsulation of Mes. FE-SEM images confirmed spherical microparticles with a narrow size distribution. TGA analysis showed better thermal stability for Alg-CA-κCar/CS microparticles compared with Alg microparticles. Alg-CA-κCar/CS microparticles achieved 73.8% drug encapsulation and demonstrated a pH-sensitive release profile with protection at pH 2 and increased release at pH 7.4. In vivo studies showed reduced pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, MPO, and IL-6 levels in treated rats. Overall, Alg-CA-κCar/CS microparticles provide a more controlled carrier for Mes, demonstrating potential in effectively treating and managing the IBD.
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