• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제19권4호
• /
• pp.280-285
• /
• 1996

The sustained release dosage form which delivers melatonin (MT) in a circadian fashion over 8 h is of clinical value for those who have disordered circadian rhythms because of its short halflife. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gelling properties and release characteristics of alginate beads varying multivalent cationic species $(Al^{+++}, \; Ba^{++}, \; Ca^{++}, \; Mg^{++}, \; Fe^{+++}, \; Zn^{++})$. The surface morphologies of Ca- and Ba-alginate beads were also studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). MT, an indole amide pineal hormone was used as a model drug. The $Ca^{++}, \; Ba^{++}, \; Zn^{++}, \; Al^{++}\; and\; Fe^{+++}\; ions\; except\; Mg^{++}$ induced gelling of sodium alginate. The strength of multivalent cationic alginate beads was as follows: $Al^{+++}\llFe^{+++} the induced hydrogel beads were very fragile and less spherical. Fe-alginate beads were also fragile but stronger compared to Al-alginate beads. Ba-alginate beads had a similar gelling strength but was less spherical when compared to Ca-alginate beads. Zn-alginate beads were weaker than Ca- and Ba-alginate beads. Very crude and rough crystals of Ba- and Ca-alginate beads at higher magnifications were observed. However, the type and shape of rough crystals of Ba- and Ca-alginate beads were quite different. No significant differences in release profiles from MT-loaded multivalent cationic alginate beads were observed in the gastric fluid. Most drugs were continuously released upto 80% for 5 h, mainly governed by the passive diffusion without swelling and disintegrating the alginate beads. In the intestinal fluid, there was a significant difference iq the release profiles of MT-loaded multivalent cationic alginate beads. The release rate of Ca-alginate beads was faster when compared to other multivalent cationic alginate beads and was completed for 3 h. Ba-alginate beads had a very long lag time (7 h) and then rapidly released thereafter. MT was continuously released from Feand Zn-alginate beads with initial burstout release. It is assumed that the different release rofiles of multivalent cationic alginate beads resulted from forces of swelling and disintegration of alginate beads in addition to passive diffusion, depending on types of multivalent ions, gelling strength and drug solubility. It was estimated that 0.2M $CaCl_2$ concentration was optimal in terms of trapping efficiency of MT and gelling strength of Ca-alginate beads. In the gastric fluid, Ca-alginate beads gelled at 0.2 M $CaCl_2$ concentration had higher bead strength, resulting in the most retarded release when compared to other concentrations. In the intestinal fluid, the decreased release of Ca-alginate beads prepared at 0.2 M $CaCl_2$ concentration was also observed. However, release profiles of Ca-alginate beads were quite similar regardless of $CaCl_2$ concentration. Either too low or high $CaCl_2$ concentrations may not be useful for gelling and curing of alginate beads. Optimal $CaCl_2$ concentrations must be decided in terms of trapping efficiency and release and profiles of drug followed by curing time and gelling strength of alginate beads.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제18권3호
• /
• pp.183-188
• /
• 1995

Polymeric reinforcement and coatings of alginate beads were carried out to control the release rate of drug from alginate beads. A poorly water-soluble ibuprofen (IPF) was selected as a model drug. A commercially available $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 was also used as a polymer. Effects of polymeric contents, the presence of plasticizers and amount of drug loading on the release rate of drug were investigated. The release rate of drug from alginate beads in the simulated gastric fluid did not occur within 2 h but released immediately when dissolution media were switched to the simulated intestinal fluid. No significant difference of release rate from polymer-reinforced alginate bead without plasticizers was observed when compared to plain (simple) beads. However, the release rate of drug from polymer-reinforced alginate beads was further sustained and retarded when aluminium tristearate (AT) as a plasticizer was added to polymer. However, polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) did not change the release rate of drug from alginate beads although PEG400 was used to improve dispersion of polymer and sodium alginate, and plasticize $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 polymer. The presence of plasticizer was crucial to reinforce alginate gel matrices using a polymer. As the amount of drug loading increased, the release rate of drug increased as a result of decreasing effects of polymer contents in matrices. The significantly sustained release of drug from polymer-coated alginate beads occurred as the amount of polymer increased because the thickness of coated membrane increased so that cracks and pores of the outer surface of alginate beads could be reduced. The sustained and retarded action of polymer-reinforced and coated beads may result from the disturbance of swelling and erosion (disintegration) of alginate beads. From these findings, polymeric-reinforcement and coatings of alginate gel beads can provide an advanced delivery system by retarding the release rate of various drugs.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• 제17권3호
• /
• pp.133-138
• /
• 2012

Polyvinyl alcohol/alginate hydrogel beads containing Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH-PVA/alginate beads) were synthesized for phosphate removal. Results showed that blending PVA with the LDH-alginate beads significantly improved their stability in a phosphate solution. The kinetic reaction in LDH-PVA/alginate beads reached equilibrium at 12 hr-post reaction with 99.2% removal. The amount of phosphate removed at equilibrium ($q_e$) was determined to be 0.389 mgP/g. The equilibrium data were described well by the Freundlich isotherm with the distribution coefficient ($K_F$, 0.638) and the constant (n, 0.396). Phosphate removal in LDH-PVA/alginate beads was not sensitive to solution pH. Also, the removal capacity of LDH-PVA/alginate beads ($q_e$, 1.543 mgP/g) was two orders of magnitude greater than that of PVA/alginate beads ($q_e$, 0.016 mgP/g) in column experiments. This study demonstrates that LDH-PVA/alginate beads with a higher chemical stability against phosphate compared to LDH-alginate beads have the potential for phosphate removal as adsorptive media.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.153-161
• /
• 1995

Alginic acid is a hydrophilic , colloidal polysaccharide obtained from cell wall of seaweed or brown algae and has a broad range of applications. Alginlc acid becomes alginate gel bead due to its cation-induced gelation. Dried alginate beads can be reswollen according to environmental pH. The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible applicability of alginate beads as an oral controlled release system of ibuprofen. In this experiment ibuprofen was incorporated in alginate beads and alginate beads were treated with various methods. Ibuprofen release from alginate beads in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) was laster than in distilled water and dilute HCl. The release of ibuprofen was more sustained in bead than simple mixture and coprecipitate of ibuprofen and sodium alginate. The dissolution rate of ibuprofen was decreased in using of bead that hardened with formaldehyde. The dissolution rate of the drug from the bead was the fastest in 12 hour dried beads, 1.5%-sodium alginate concentration and 1%-calcium chloride concentration. Sodium alginate bead can be used as a sustaind release drug delivery system of water-insoluble drugs.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.19-26
• /
• 1993

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible applicability of alginate beads as an oral controlled release system of polymeric drugs. Cellulase was used as a model polymeric drug. The release of cellulase from alginate beads was moderately affected by the ratio of cellulase to sodium alginate and strongly affected by $CaCl_2$ concentration. However, the release was not particularly affected by the other factors such as sodium alginate concentration and curing time. The drug was not released from alginate beads at pH 1.2, but was released continuously up to 8 hr at pH 6.8. At pH 6.8, the beads were swollen highly up to 3 hr, thereafter, were eroded into the bulk solution up to 6 hr, completely. Drug release from the beads can be caused due to diffusion and erosion of the matrix. Activity of cellulase was reduced when alginate beads containing cellulase were stored in simulated gastric juice. Further investigation would be necessary to improve the acid resistance of the beads. Since the release of cellulase as a model polymeric drug could be controlled by the regulation of the preparation conditions of alginate beads, the alginate beads may be used for a potential oral controlled release system of such polymeric drugs as polypeptide drugs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제21권6호
• /
• pp.645-650
• /
• 1998

The dual drug-loaded alginate beads simultaneously containing drug in inner and outer layers were prepared by dropping plain (single-layered) alginate beads into $CaCl_2$ solution. The release characteristics were evaluated in simulated gastric fluid for 2 h followed by intestinal fluids thereafter for 12 h. The surface morphology and cross section of dual drug-loaded alginate beads was also investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The poorlv water-soluble ibuprofen was chosen as a model drug. The surface of single-layered and dual drug-loaded alginate beads showed very crude and roughness, showing aggregated particles, surface cracks and rough crystals. The thickness of dual drug-loaded alginate beads surrounded by outer layer was ranged from about 57 to 329mcm. The distinct chasm between inner and outer layers was also observed. In case of single-layered alginate bead, the drug was not released in gastric fluid but was largely released in intestinal fluid. However, the release rate decreased as the reinforcing $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ polymer contents increased. When the plasticizers were added into polymer, the release rate largely decreased. The release rate of dual drug-loaded alginate beads was stable in gastric fluid for 2 h but largely increased when switched in intestinal fluid. The drug linearly released for 4 h followed by another linear release thereafter, showing a distinct biphasic release characteristics. There was a difference in the release profiles between single-layered and dual drug-loaded alginate beads due to their structural shape. However, this biphasic release profiles were modified by varying formulation compositions of inner and outer layer of alginate beads. The release rate of dual drug-loaded alginate beads slightly decreased when the outer layer was reinforced with $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS1OO polymers. In case of dual drug-loaded alginate beads with polymer-reinforced outer layer only, the initial amount of druc released was low but the initial release rate (slope) was higher due to more swellable inner cores when compared to polymer-reinforced inner cores. The current dual drug-loaded alginate beads may be used to deliver the drugs in a time dependent manner.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제49권3호
• /
• pp.534-540
• /
• 2017

The adsorption of uranium (VI) by calcium alginate beads was examined by batch experiments. The effects of environmental conditions on U (VI) adsorption were studied, including contact time, pH, initial concentration of U (VI), and temperature. The alginate beads were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated that hydroxyl and alkoxy groups are present at the surface of the beads. The experimental results showed that the adsorption of U (VI) by alginate beads was strongly dependent on pH, the adsorption increased at pH 3~7, then decreased at pH 7~9. The adsorption reached equilibrium within 2 minutes. The adsorption kinetics of U (VI) onto alginate beads can be described by a pseudo first-order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherm can be described by the Redlich-Peterson model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 237.15 mg/g. The sorption process is spontaneous and has an exothermic reaction.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.83-87
• /
• 2001

In this study, the characteristics of lead removal by PVA and alginate bead which used widely as immobilizing agents were investigated, and the difference of removal amounts between pure PVA/alginate bead and Sargassum thunbergii immobilized bead was studied. All PVA beads, pure and S. thunbergii immobilized, reached an equilibrium state in about 1 hour, and S. thunbergii immobilized bead adsorbed more lead than pure one. But in the case of alginate beads, they needed much time, about 5 hours, to reach an equilibrium state, and adsorbed lead four times higher than PVA beads. Therefore, it was considered that alginate beads had more mass transfer resistance and function groups which adsorb lead such as hydroxyl, carboxyl and etc. than PVA bead. To examine the continuous usage of alginate beads, the process of adsorption/desorption of lead was conducted repeatedly. As the process proceeded, the amounts of lead adsorption decrease, so it was indicated that the non-desorbed lead from alginate bead at first adsorption/desorption process remained constantly.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제5권4호
• /
• pp.229-233
• /
• 1995

Acremonium chrysogenum was immobilized in ionotropic gel beads to develop semi-continuous production of cephalosporin C (CPC). Barium alginate beads were more stable than calcium alginate or strontium alginate beads in chemically defined media. The gel stability of Ba-alginate was further increased by cross-linking with polyethyleneimine (PEI). The presence of carboxymethyl cellulose inside Ba-alginate beads did not reduce mass transfer resistance. Ba-alginate microbeads that had little diffusion limitation increased CPC production rate 1.6 fold higher than that of normal beads. CPC fermentation with immobilized cells in Ba-alginate microbeads was performed continuously for 40 days by way of repeated fed-batch operations. Mathematical modeling was developed to describe the repeated fed-batch fermentation system. Results of the computer simulation agreed well with the experimental data, which made it possible to predict an optimal feeding rate that could maximize total CPC productions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.234-237
• /
• 2015

In this study, we developed lysosome-alginate beads for application as an oral drug delivery system (ODDS). The beads harboring lysosomes, which have antimicrobial activity, and various concentrations of alginate were characterized and optimized. For application as an ODDS, pH-dependent lysosome-alginate beads were generated, and the level of lysosome release was investigated by using antimicrobial tests. At low pH, lysosomes were not released from the lysosome-alginate beads; however, at neutral pH, similar to the pH in the intestine, lysosome release was confirmed, as determined by a high antimicrobial activity. This study shows the potential of such an ODDS for the in vivo treatment of infection with pathogens.