title: Blend Hydrogel Microspheres of Carboxymethyl Chitosan and Gelatin for the Controlled Release of 5-Fluorouracil.
abstract: Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was synthesized and blended with gelatin (GE) to prepare hydrogel microspheres by w/o emulsion cross-linking in the presence of glutaraldehyde (GA), which acted as a cross-linker. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was encapsulated to investigate its controlled release (CR) characteristics in acidic (pH 1.2) and alkaline (pH 7.4) buffer media. The microspheres which formed were spherical in nature, with smooth surfaces, as judged by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the carboxymethylation of CS and the chemical stability of 5-FU in the formulations. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the physical state and molecular level dispersion of 5-FU. Equilibrium swelling of microspheres was performed in water, in order to understand the water uptake properties. The in vitro release of 5-FU was extended up to 12 h in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer, revealing an encapsulation efficiency of 72%. The effects of blend composition, the extent of cross-linking, and initial drug loading on the in vitro release properties, were investigated. When analyzed through empirical equations, the release data suggested a non-Fickian transport mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, College of science, engineering And Technology, University of South Africa, Pretoria 1709, South Africa. rajineekanth@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vanarchi Rajini
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Kanth
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad 580 003, India. honeypree@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Praveen B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Kajjari
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, College of science, engineering And Technology, University of South Africa, Pretoria 1709, South Africa. ravisakey@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Priya M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Madalageri
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, College of science, engineering And Technology, University of South Africa, Pretoria 1709, South Africa. Vallavs@unisa.ac.za.
authors.forename: Sakey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravindra
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad 580 003, India. kajjari.praveen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lata S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Manjeshwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Chemistry, SET's College of Pharmacy, Dharwad 580 002, India. latamanjeshwar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tejraj M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Aminabhavi
keywords: 5-FU; blend hydrogel microspheres; carboxymethyl chitosan; controlled release; gelatin