Can kinetic analysis be a tool for evaluating pore characteristics?

Abstract

As the pore morphology influences drug release, the purpose is to study pore characteristics by comparing bead performances. Casein/gelatin beads have been prepared by the emulsification extraction method, cross-linked with D, Lglyceraldehyde in acetone:water mixture 3:1 (v/v) and loaded with sodium fluorescein as a model drug. The beads with higher casein percentage have a higher matrix porosity, a wider average pore diameter and a higher crosslinking degree. The higher casein percentage causes a lower drug release rate. The kinetic analysis shows that the drug release occurs by diffusion and that the diffusion coefficient is affected by the casein percentage and the cross-linking degree. It can be hypothesized that the pore and channel morphology (tortuosity), due to the casein percentage in the matrix and the cross-linking treatment, can be evaluated by kinetic analysis of the release data.

Keywords::

• Casein Gelatin Beads Porosity Tortuosity Release Kinetic