Alginate-konjac glucomannan-chitosan beads as controlled release matrix

Controlled release beads were prepared by using alginate (ALG), konjac glucomannan (KGM) and chitosan (CHI). Bovine serum albumin and insulin were used as model proteins for in vitro assessments. It was observed that KGM could be contained within beads, and faintness hydrogen binding and electrostatic interaction exist between ALG and KGM by infrared spectra. Clear dents were found on the surface of beads using KGM by scanning electron microscopy. Use of KGM could help increase the payload of drug. After beads were treated by 0.1 N HCl for 4 h and put into pH 7.4 buffers, protein was released from ALG-CHI beads within I h, while it was lost from ALG-KGM-CHI beads for 3 h. However, the leaking of protein from ALG-KGM-CHI beads was also increased in 0.1 N HCl solution. Concentration of gelling ion had great effect on release rate and gel structure. Studies of water of hydration had shown that swelling of ALG-KGM-CHI beads was higher than that of ALG-CHI beads in acidic solution, but the opposite result was obtained in alkali solution. The result indicated that the diffusion of protein was related to the viscosity and swelling properties of KGM. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.