Structural Characterization of Calcium Alginate Matrices by Means of Mechanical and Release Tests

Molecules

Mario Grassi²  Chiara Sandolo¹  Danilo Perin²  Tommasina Coviello¹  Romano Lapasin² 

[1] Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy; E-mails:;Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dell'Ambiente e delle Materie prime, Università di Trieste, P.le Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; E-mail:

关键词: calcium alginates;    mechanical tests;    diffusive tests;    mesh size;    equivalent network theory;   

DOI  :  10.3390/molecules14083003

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In this paper we have concentrated on the characterization of calcium alginate hydrogels loaded with a model drug (myoglobin) by means of a mechanical approach; in addition, release tests of myoglobin from alginate hydrogels were performed. At a fixed temperature, relaxation tests (mechanical study) were carried out on matrices constituted by different polymer concentrations. The interpretation of the relaxation behavior of the different matrices was conducted using the generalized Maxwell model; as a result of this investigation it was possible to conclude that for polymer concentrations greater than 0.5 g/ 100 mL the matrices behaved as solid materials. In addition, it was observed that the mechanical properties of the matrices increased with polymer concentration. With regard to the release tests, the diffusion coefficient of myoglobin in the matrix in relation to polymer concentrations was determined. The mechanical and release data where then analyzed by Flory’s theory and by a modified free-volume theory, respectively, to estimate the network mesh size ξ. The comparison between the mesh sizes obtained by the two approaches showed a satisfactory agreement for polymer concentrations greater than 0.5 g/100 mL. It should be noted that the approach proposed here to determine the polymeric network meshes is absolutely general and can be advantageously applied to the characterization of other similar polymeric systems.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2009 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.