This paper describes the use of oxidised dextran as cross-linker for the preparation of gelatin microspheres. Microspheres were obtained by a thermal gelation method and their dissolution kinetic was examined. In order to find evidence of sugar mediated cross-linking, swelling tests and gelatin microspheres dissolution experiments were performed. The obtained results indicated that oxidised dextran can form a cross-linked gelatin network able to reduce the dissolution of gelatin. More interestingly, gelatin microspheres treated by both native and oxidised dextran slow down, even if in a different extent, the release of the antitumor drug TAPP-Br used as model compound. Taken together our results suggest that oxidised dextran could be an interesting mean to cross-link gelatin microspheres allowing the use of this delivery formulation for controlled release of drugs.
Dextran cross-linked gelatin microspheres as a drug delivery system
CORTESI, Rita;ESPOSITO, Elisabetta;MENEGATTI, Enea;NASTRUZZI, Claudio
1999
Abstract
This paper describes the use of oxidised dextran as cross-linker for the preparation of gelatin microspheres. Microspheres were obtained by a thermal gelation method and their dissolution kinetic was examined. In order to find evidence of sugar mediated cross-linking, swelling tests and gelatin microspheres dissolution experiments were performed. The obtained results indicated that oxidised dextran can form a cross-linked gelatin network able to reduce the dissolution of gelatin. More interestingly, gelatin microspheres treated by both native and oxidised dextran slow down, even if in a different extent, the release of the antitumor drug TAPP-Br used as model compound. Taken together our results suggest that oxidised dextran could be an interesting mean to cross-link gelatin microspheres allowing the use of this delivery formulation for controlled release of drugs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
