Abstract
Entirely biomass-based chitosan-alginate hydrogel composites were prepared using mussel-derived
calcite. Composite hydrogel beads were prepared with 0.0, 1.0, and 2.5 wt % calcite
and were characterized using IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM),
and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Diameters of beads were measured to ensure uniform
preparation. The swelling behavior of beads was tested in 0.1 M HCl, 0.1 M potassium
phosphate buffer, and deionized water at 37 °C. Beads containing calcite were found
to have significantly less swelling ability in 0.1 M HCl and deionized water, but
in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer, no change in swelling ability was observed for
beads containing zero calcite compared with those containing calcite. Encapsulation
efficiency (EE) measurements of methylene blue, as a model drug, showed that 0.0 wt %
calcite beads had an EE of 80.8% and those containing calcite had lower EE: 60.7%
(1.0 wt % calcite) and 71.6% (2.5 wt % calcite).
Methylene blue release in a surrogate gastric environment (0.1 M HCl followed by 0.1 K
buffer) showed that 0.0 wt % calcite beads had the least controlled release, whereas
those containing calcite showed controlled release. Drug release results were found
to be significant through a one-way ANOVA test (p < 0.05). TGA data show that SC levels in beads after placement in a surrogate gastric
fluid (0.1 M HCl) are significantly reduced due to the reaction between calcite and
HCl.
Keywords
Biomaterials - Renewable - Calcium carbonate - Blue economy - Biomass - Polysaccharides
- Drug release
Bibliographical Record
Megan M. Fitzgerald, Melissa A. Morgan, Francesca M. Kerton. Entirely Biomass-Derived
Hydrogel Composites for Possible Applications in Drug Delivery. Sustainability & Circularity
NOW 2025; 02: a24874285.
DOI: 10.1055/a-2487-4285
