Role of immobilisation mechanism in governing pantothenate release kinetics from alginate-chitosan-hyaluronate film

Abstract

The development of the aqueous phase separation method by de Vos opened up broad prospects for the development of materials based on polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), in particular as controlled-release systems [1]. However, their release behaviour strongly depends on the chemical nature of the incorporated active compound and the mechanism of its immobilisation in the polymer matrix [2]. In this study, films based on alginate-chitosan PEC loaded with hyaluronate were used for comparison of two strategies of calcium pantothenate immobilisation: co-precipitation during film formation [3] and post-formational sorption. Films incorporating pantothenate were used to investigate the release kinetics of an anionic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) under varying pH conditions.