title: Sonication-based improvement of the physicochemical properties of Guar Gum as a potential substrate for modified drug delivery systems.
abstract: Guar Gum is a natural polysaccharide that, due to its physicochemical properties, is extensively investigated for biomedical applications as a matrix for modified drug delivery, but it is also used in the food industry as well as in cosmetics. A commercial sample of Guar Gum was sonicated for different periods of time, and the reduction in the average molecular weight was monitored by means of viscometric measurements. At the same time, the rheological behaviour was also followed, in terms of viscoelasticity range, flow curves, and mechanical spectra. Sonicated samples were used for the preparation of gels in the presence of borate ions. The effect of borax on the new samples was investigated by recording mechanical spectra, flow curves, and visible absorption spectra of complexes with Congo Red. The anisotropic elongation, observed in previous studies with tablets of Guar Gum and borax, was remarkably reduced when the sonicated samples were used for the preparation of the gels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, University La Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Siddique Akber
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matricardi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cencetti
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Meo
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carafa
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzuca
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palleschi
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capitani
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alhaique
authors.forename: Tommasina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coviello
mesh_terms: D001881:Borates / Q000737:chemistry; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004548:Elasticity; D005685:Galactans / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008351:Mannans / Q000737:chemistry*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D053149:Plant Gums / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology; D012996:Solutions; D013010:Sonication / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001881:Borates; D005685:Galactans; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; C018851:borax; C007894:guar gum