Fast production of high-methoxyl pectin aerogels for enhancing the bioavailability of low-soluble drugs

Aerogels are outstanding materials with high porosities, low densities and large surface areas. Moreover, polysaccharide aerogels e.g. pectin aerogels, are gaining interest due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility, which makes them interesting materials for medical, pharmaceutical or food applications. In this research we propose a new method for the gelation of high-methoxyl pectin. In later continuation those aerogels will be proposed as carriers to enhance the dissolution of poorly soluble drugs. Nifedipine was used as model drug. The aim of the research was to investigate two methods for the drug loading; first by adding the drug during the sol-gel process and second by supercritical adsorption. By the novel gelation method, the overall aerogel production time was shorter. In addition, prepared aerogels possessed highest yet reported surface area for high-methoxyl pectin monolithic aerogels, namely around 390 m(2) g(-1). Drug loading during the sol-gel process was higher (22%), however also supercritical adsorption gave comparably good results (13%) according to the low solubility of nifedipine. Nifedipine release was controlled over 12 h and 100% (60 mg) drug release was achieved in this period. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.