Stojan Rendevski
Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE
Title: The influence of inhomogeneity of calcium alginate hydrogels on their controlled release properties
Biography
Biography: Stojan Rendevski
Abstract
The controlled release properties of calcium alginate hydrogels are predetermined mainly by two factors: the monomer composition of the alginate (mannuronic-to-guluronic ratio) and the technology of gel preparation that lead to more or less homogenous hydrogels. The inhomogeneity of the calcium alginate hydrogels has been investigated in the respect to the size and amount of calcium alginate microgel structure existing in the sodium alginate gelling solution. Dynamic light scattering measurements and scanning electron microscopy has been utilized for characterization of the hydrogels. The controlled release properties have been found dependent on the size and amount of calcium alginate microgels in respect to changed lag-time, intensity of the burst effect, release rate and release efficiency. The findings also suggest that the mixing technique plays an importnat factor in preparation of homogen calcium alginate core hydrogels with or without a shell layer.