Glutaraldehyde cross-linked chitosan microspheres for controlled release of centchroman

Glutaraldehyde cross-linked chitosan microspheres were prepared for controlled release of centchroman, a nonsteroidal contraceptive. The cross-linked microspheres with low-molecular-weight (LMW) chitosan (260 kg mol(-1)) have shown maximum degree of swelling (287 wt%) but were found to be poor in loading and release behavior for centchroman. The microspheres with medium-molecular-weight (MMW) chitosan (1134 kg mol(-1)) have shown 250 wt% degree of swelling and 37.5 wt% loading of centchroman, but microspheres with high-molecular-weight (HMW) chitosan (2224 kg mol(-1)) have shown a low degree of swelling (150 wt%) and centchroman loading (30 wt%). The microspheres with MMW chitosan have released 82 wt% of loaded centchroman in a controlled release manner within a period of 70 h in comparison to low- (260 kg mol(-1)) and high-MW (2224 kg mol(-1)) chitosan microspheres. The chitosan microspheres with 62 wt% degree of deacetylation (DDA) were more efficient in the controlled release of centchroman in comparison to chitosan microspheres with low (48 wt%) and high-DDA (75 wt%). The fractional release of centchroman (M(t)/M(infinity)) from chitosan microspheres was used to predict the mechanism of drug release and to determine the diffusion constant (D) of centchroman.     

Glutaraldehyde and glyoxal cross-linked chitosan microspheres for controlled delivery of centchroman

Glutaraldehyde and glyoxal cross-linked microspheres were prepared using chitosan with different molecular weights (MWs) and degrees of deacetylation (DDAs) for sustained release of centchroman under physiological conditions. The DDA in chitosan was determined by different methods, and the samples were categorized as chitosan with low (48%), medium (62%), and high (75%) DDA. The size and shape of the microspheres were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and hydrophobicity was determined by adsorption of Rose Bengal dye on microspheres cross-linked with glutaraldehyde or glyoxal. The effect of MW, DDA, and degree of cross-linking in microspheres was studied on the degree of swelling, as well as by the loading and release of centchroman. The glyoxal cross-linked microspheres were more compact and hydrophobic and showed better sustained release in companion to chitosan microspheres and glutaraldehyde cross-linked microspheres. The linear fractional release of centchroman with the square root of time indicated a Fickian behavior of centchroman, and the microspheres also showed zero-order release kinetics for centchroman.     

The study of gelation kinetics and chain-relaxation properties of glutaraldehyde-cross-linked chitosan gel and their effects on microspheres preparation and drug release

The effects of gelation kinetics and chain-relaxation properties of glutaraldehyde-cross-linked chitosan gel on microspheres preparation or drug release were studied. The rate of gelation is zero order corresponding to the chitosan concentration but non-zero order corresponding to the glutaraldehyde concentration. It was suggested that the cross-linking reaction was mainly dominated by the concentration of small molecule reactant, glutaraldehyde. The relaxation of an entangled polymer chain in a gel network as a result of the swelling of cross-linked chitosan hydrogel was investigated by the stress–strain determination. The higher the cross-linking density of chitosan hydrogel, the lower the swelling ability of chitosan hydrogel due to the slower relaxation rate of polymer chain, which then results in the decreased drug-release rate.     

In vitro release of lysozyme from gelatin microspheres: effect of cross-linking agents and thermoreversible gel as suspending medium

This study was aimed to characterize the microstructure and the performance of gelatin microspheres (GMs) cross-linked by two different cross-linkers viz. d-glucose and glutaraldehyde. New formulations were obtained, suspending the GMs in a thermoreversible Pluronic F127 (PF127) liquid-crystalline gel. Lysozyme was used as a model biomacromolecular drug to evaluate release features. Both types of cross-linked GMs were prepared by thermal gelation method. The lysozyme-loaded microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for size distribution, shape, and surface texture. SEM revealed that both types of lysozyme-loaded GMs were spherical in shape and that the surface of glutaraldehyde cross-linked GMs was smoother than that of the glucose cross-linked GMs. The degree of cross-linking of microspheres was investigated using ATR-FTIR technique. The prepared GMs were suspended in 20% w/v aqueous PF127 gel for which the usual sol-gel transition temperature of 22 °C did not change in the presence of GMs, as indicated by rheological measurements. SAXS study of the PF127 gel confirmed the occurrence of a discrete cubic liquid-crystalline phase of the Fm3m type whose lattice parameter slightly decreased as a result of GMs addition. The in vitro release of lysozyme from both types of cross-linked GMs was successfully controlled when they were suspended in PF127 gel, thus suggesting the potential use of this new combined formulation as a drug-depot system.     

Synthesis and characterization of pH-sensitive hydrogel composed of carboxymethyl chitosan for colon targeted delivery of ornidazole

In the present study, carboxymethyl chitosan was prepared from chitosan, crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and evaluated in vitro as a potential carrier for colon targeted drug delivery of ornidazole. Ornidazole was incorporated at the time of crosslinking of carboxymethyl chitosan. The chitosan was evaluated for its degree of deacetylation (DD) and average molecular weight; which were found to be 84.6% and 3.5×10(4) Da, respectively. The degree of substitution on prepared carboxymethyl chitosan was found to be 0.68. All hydrogel formulations showed more than 85% and 74% yield and drug loading, respectively. The swelling behaviour of prepared hydrogels checked in different pH values, 1.2, 6.8 and 7.4, indicated pH responsive swelling characteristic with very less swelling at pH 1.2 and quick swelling at pH 6.8 followed by linear swelling at pH 7.4 with slight increase. In vitro release profile was carried out at the same conditions as in swelling and drug release was found to be dependant on swelling of hydrogels and showed biphasic release pattern with non-fickian diffusion kinetics at higher pH. The carboxymethylation of chitosan, entrapment of drug and its interaction in prepared hydrogels were checked by FTIR, (1)H NMR, DSC and p-XRD studies, which confirmed formation of carboxymethyl chitosan from chitosan and absence of any significant chemical change in ornidazole after being entrapped in crosslinked hydrogel formulations. The surface morphology of formulation S6 checked before and after dissolution, revealed open channel like pores formation after dissolution.     

5-methyl-pyrrolidinone chitosan films as carriers for buccal administration of proteins

The purpose of this research was to investigate 5-methyl-pyrrolidinone chitosan (MPC) films as carriers for buccal delivery of protein drugs. Placebo and protein-loaded MPC films were prepared by casting and were then cross-linked with tripolyphosphate at different pH conditions. Myoglobin (MHb) was chosen as the model protein because its molecular weight is under the permeability limit of the buccal mucosa. The observed characteristics like bioadhesiveness, swelling behavior, and in vitro release of MHb from loaded films furnish information on the functional behavior of these films. The results obtained show that the modulation of Mhb release was achieved only through chitosan cross-linking; the best results in release rate control were obtained by cross-linking performed at pH 6.5. Good bioadhesion properties were maintained even with high cross-linking degrees; the swelling index of MHb-loaded films at different cross-linking degrees evaluated at pH 7.4 and pH 6.4 were comparable to those of placebo films. By setting suitable tripolyphosphate cross-linking conditions for MPC films, one can control protein release without affecting bioadhesion. Published: September 1, 2006     

Preparation and characterization of glutaraldehyde cross-linked O-carboxymethylchitosan microspheres for controlled delivery of pazufloxacin mesilate

O-carboxymethylchitosan (OCMC) microspheres containing an antibiotic drug pazufloxacin mesilate (PM) have been successfully prepared by emulsion cross-linking using glutaraldehyde (GA). Various manufacturing parameters, including amount of cross-linking agent and OCMC:PM ratios were altered to optimize process variables during the microspheres production. The structure and morphology were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The swelling and releasing behaviors of the microspheres at pH 1.2 and 7.4 media were investigated. The results revealed that the microspheres had a spherical, rough morphology and with a narrow size distribution. The degree of swelling of microspheres at pH 7.4 media was higher than that at pH 1.2 media. The microspheres proved to be successful in prolonging drug release. The release of PM was found to depend upon the extent of matrix cross-linking and drug loading. The release profiles of PM from OCMC microspheres were found to be biphasic with a burst release followed by a gradual release phase, and followed the Higuchi matrix model.     

Solute adsorption and enzyme immobilization on chitosan beads prepared from shrimp shell wastes

The equilibrium and kinetics of adsorption of reactive dye RR222 and Cu²⁺, and the activity of immobilization of acid phosphatase, on highly swollen chitosan beads were examined at 30°C. The chitosan was prepared from shrimp shell wastes and was cross-linked with different dosages of glutaraldehyde or glyoxal (100–80,000 mg/l). It was shown that the amounts of solute adsorption and the immobilization capacity of acid phosphatase on cross-linked chitosan beads were substantially affected by their degree of cross-linking. The cross-linking rate of chitosan with glutaraldehyde could be described by a pseudo-second-order equation and the cross-linking equilibrium by the Freundlich equation. This provided an experimental method to control the degree of cross-linking of chitosan beads. Finally, the activity and lifetime of the immobilized enzyme were measured to evaluate the application potential.     

In situ forming chitosan hydrogels prepared via ionic/covalent co-cross-linking

In situ forming chitosan hydrogels have been prepared via coupled ionic and covalent cross-linking. Thus, different amounts of genipin (0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20% (w/w)), used as a chemical cross-linker, were added to a solution of chitosan that was previously neutralized with a glycerol-phosphate complex (ionic cross-linker). In this way, it was possible to overcome the pH barrier of the chitosan solution, to preserve its thermosensitive character, and to enhance the extent of cross-linking in the matrix simultaneously. To investigate the contributions of the ionic cross-linking and the chemical cross-linking, separately, we prepared the hydrogels without the addition of either genipin or the glycerol-phosphate complex. The addition of genipin to the neutralized solution disturbs the ionic cross-linking process and the chemical cross-linking becomes the dominant process. Moreover, the genipin concentration was used to modulate the network structure and performance. The more promising formulations were fully characterized, in a hydrated state, with respect to any equilibrium swelling, the development of internal structure, the occurrence of in vitro degradability and cytotoxicity, and the creation of in vivo injectability. Each of the hydrogel systems exhibited a notably high equilibrium water content, arising from the fact that their internal structure (examined by conventional SEM, and environmental SEM) was highly porous with interconnecting pores. The porosity and the pore size distribution were quantified by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Although all gels became degraded in the presence of lysozyme, their degradation rate greatly depended on the genipin load. Through in vitro viability tests, the hydrogel-based formulations were shown to be nontoxic. The in vivo injection of a co-cross-linking formulation revealed that the gel was rapidly formed and localized at the injection site, remaining in position for at least 1 week.     

Chitosan cross-linking with a water-soluble,blocked diisocyanate. 2. Solvates and hydrogels

A water-soluble, blocked diisocyante was used to cross-link chitosan under various degrees of solvation, including hydration to form hydrogels. Thermal cross-linking of films cast from various amounts of organic cosolvents was found to increase with increased level of cosolvent up to a solvation level of 17% (w/w) and to be more efficient than for films prepared without cosolvent. Rheological studies revealed that gel modulus increased and gel time decreased with increasing cross-linker content and that gelation kinetics were consistent with a process having an activation energy of 103 kJ/mol. Swelling of hydrogels indicated that, even at high levels of hydration, the increased molecular mobility of reactants allowed for efficient network formation in a concentration-dependent manner. The extent of solvation via equilibrium swelling correlated well with degradative properties of chitosan networks in the presence of Chitinase (E. C. 3.2.1.14) from Streptomyces griseus with stability increasing with decreasing swelling (i.e., increased cross-linking).     

可控性释放NGF的京尼平- 壳聚糖微球的研究

目的:在体外研究京尼平-壳聚糖微球可控性释放具有生物活性的神经生长因子的可行性。方法:采用"乳化-化学交联"技术制备包埋神经生长因子的京尼平-壳聚糖微球,京尼平为化学交联剂;应用扫描电镜、粒径分布、体外缓释动力学及细胞生物活性分别对微球的性能进行研究。结果:京尼平-壳聚糖微球表面光滑,平均粒径在5.1~50.5μm之间;京尼平的浓度可影响微球在体外释放神经生长因子的速度,经高浓度京尼平交联的微球能减缓并持续释放神经生长因子;此外,从京尼平-壳聚糖微球释放的神经生长因子可维持PC12细胞的生物活性,提高NGF生物利用率。结论:京尼平-壳聚糖微球能有效缓释具有生物活性的NGF超过14天,为神经退行性疾病的治疗提供一种治疗策略。     

高分子药物缓释用壳聚糖微球的制备

本文采用了先交联制备可溶胀的壳聚糖载体微球,后将模型高分子药物以被动吸咐方式担载在溶胀的微球内的两步法,制备缓释高分子药物微球,避免了高分子药物接触有机试剂引起的活性损失。     

Studies on effect of pH on cross-linking of chitosan with sodium tripolyphosphate: A technical note

The ionotropic gelation method for formation of crosslinked chitosan particles can be easily modified from ionic cross-linking to deprotonation by adjusting the pH of TPP. Chitosan was cross-linked ionically with TPP at lower pH and by deprotonation mechanism at higher pH. The swelling behavior of cross-linked chitosan appeared to depend on the pH of TPP. The ionically cross-linked chitosan showed higher swelling ability. Thus the nature of crosslinked chitosan can be tailor made to obtain the desired properties in terms of cross-linking density, crystallinity, and hydrophilicity.     

pH-sensitive genipin-cross-linked chitosan microspheres for heparin removal

Chitosan hydrogel microspheres were obtained by cross-linking chitosan in its inverse emulsion using genipin as cross-linker. The genipin-cross-linked chitosan microspheres (ChGp) swell significantly in water at pH values below 6.5 and shrink to a smaller extent at pH values above 6.5. ChGp microspheres bind heparin in water. The kinetics of heparin binding was found to be pH dependent and was faster and more efficient at a lower pH. That can be also controlled by the weight of ChGp microspheres used. Rate and efficiency of heparin adsorption at pH 7.4, which is typical of blood, could be increased by quaternization of ChGp microspheres using glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC). The polymeric material obtained thus can be potentially useful for heparin removal in biomedical applications.     

Cross-linked carrageenan beads for controlled release delivery systems

The objective of this study was to prepare and cross-link carrageenan beads that may be used as a controlled release delivery system. The influence of the bulk carrageenan and cross-linker concentrations on the bead size was studied in order to assess the mechanism of cross-linking between epichlorohydrin and the polysaccharide. The conditions were optimised on macroparticles (3.1 mm in diameter) for a better understanding of the cross-link density and its effect on the morphology and surface topography of the bead. It was shown that low epichlorohydrin concentrations led to unstable and weak beads with uneven and cracked surfaces. The optimum cross-linker concentration, which resulted in smooth and stable gel beads, was applied to microparticles (76 μm in diameter). The swelling/shrinking behaviour of these cross-linked microgels in saline solutions showed great potential for the application of these micro-sponges as delivery systems in food or pharmaceutical products.     

尺寸均一的壳聚糖微球的制备及其作为胰岛素控释载体的研究

采用新型微孔膜乳化技术制备了载胰岛素的壳聚糖微球。研究表明,要制备粒径均一的壳聚糖微球,必须将亲水性膜修饰成疏水性;制得的微球粒径和所采用的膜孔径之间存在很好的线性关系,使得微球粒径可控;以胰岛素为模型药物,主要考察了交联剂用量和交联时间对微球表面形态、药物包埋率和微球体外释药特性的影响。结果表明当氨基与醛基的摩尔比为1∶0.7、交联时间为1h时,所得载药微球的包埋率最高,随着戊二醛用量的增加和交联时间的延长,药物体外释放速率减慢。     

Cross-linked amylose as matrix for drug controlled release. X-ray and FT-IR structural analysis

For cross-linked amylose (CLA) tablets prepared by direct compression, a linear increase in cross-linking degree (cld) defined as percentage of epichlorohydrin cross-linker/polymer, generates non-monotonous variation of drug release time. Controlled release (up to 20–24 h) properties were obtained only for tablets from CLA (Contramid^TM) with relatively low cld (CLA-2 up to CLA-6). Moderate increase in cld (CLA-15) generates a sharp decrease in the release time (2–6 h). This is a particular characteristic of the CLA matrix. The controlled release properties were related to the X-ray pattern of the dry CLA network. The increase in cld induces a transition from B-type (double helix) to a predominat V-type (single helix) and to more amorphous conformation of CLA powders. Furthermore, FT-IR data indicated low free water content at low cld. For low cross-linked CLA, chains are closely located and stabilized by HO groups involved in hydrogen bonding and thus more resistant to hydration and more appropriate for the control of drug release.     

Transport of small anionic and neutral solutes through chitosan membranes: dependence on cross-linking and chelation of divalent cations

Chitosan membranes were prepared by solvent casting and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde at several ratios under homogeneous conditions. The cross-linking degree, varying from 0 to 20%, is defined as the ratio between the total aldehyde groups and the amine groups of chitosan. Permeability experiments were conducted using a side-by-side diffusion cell to determine the flux of small molecules of similar size but with different chemical moieties, either ionized (benzoic acid, salicylic acid, and phthalic acid) or neutral (2-phenylethanol) at physiological pH. The permeability of the different model molecules revealed to be dependent on the affinity of those structurally similar molecules to chitosan. The permeability of the salicylate anion was significantly enhanced by the presence of metal cations commonly present in biological fluids, such as calcium and magnesium, but remained unchanged for the neutral 2-phenylethanol. This effect could be explained by the chelation of metal cations on the amine groups of chitosan, which increased the partition coefficient. The cross-linking degree was also correlated with the permeability and partition coefficient. The change in the permeation properties of chitosan to anionic solutes in the presence of these metallic cations is an important result and should be taken into consideration when trying to make in vitro predictions of the drug release from chitosan-based controlled release systems.     

Formulation and evaluation of mucoadhesive glipizide microspheres

The purpose of this research was to formulate and system-atically evaluate in vitro and in vivo performances of mucoadhesive microspheres of glipizide. Glipizide microspheres containing chitosan were prepared by simple emulsification phase separation technique using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. Results of preliminary trials indicate that volume of cross-linking agent, time for cross-linking, polymer-to-drug ratio, and speed of rotation affected characteristics of microspheres. Microspheres were discrete, spherical, and free flowing. The microspheres exhibited good mucoadhesive property in the in vitro wash-off test and also showed a high percentage drug entrapment efficiency. A 3² full factorial design was employed to study the effect of independent variables, polymer-to-drug ratio (X ₁), and stirring speed (X ₂) on dependent variables percentage mucoadhesion, t₈₀, drug entrapment efficiency, and swelling index. The best batch exhibited a high drug entrapment efficiency of 75% and a swelling index of 1.42; percentage mucoadhesion after 1 hour was 78%. The drug release was also sustained for more than 12 hours. The polymer-to-drug ratio had a more significant effect on the dependent variables. In vivo testing of the mucoadhesive microspheres to albino Wistar rats demonstrated significant hypoglycemic effect of glipizide.     

Gadolinium diethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid-loaded chitosan microspheres for gadolinium neutron-capture therapy

In order to provide a suitable device that would contain water-soluble drugs, highly water-soluble gadolinium diethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid-loaded chitosan microspheres (CMS-Gd-DTPA) were prepared by the emulsion method using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker and Span 80 as a surfactant for gadolinium neutron-capture therapy of cancer. The gadolinium content and the mass median diameter of CMS-Gd-DTPA were estimated. The size and morphology of the CMS-Gd-DTPA were strongly influenced by the initial applied weight ratio of Gd-DTPA:chitosan. FTIR spectra showed that the electrostatic interaction between chitosan and Gd-DTPA accelerated the formation of gadolinium-enriched chitosan microspheres. Sufficient amounts of glutaraldehyde and Span 80 were necessary for producing discrete CMS-Gd-DTPA. The CMS-Gd-DTPA having a mass median diameter 11.7microm and 11.6% of gadolinium could be used in Gd-NCT following intratumoral injection.