Preparation of Balangu (Lallemantia royleana) seed mucilage aerogels loaded with paracetamol: Evaluation of drug loading via response surface methodology

In this work, paracetamol (PCM) loading into Balangu seed mucilage (BSM) aerogels was investigated using the combination of supercritical drying and gas antisolvent (GAS) precipitation method. Response surface methodology (RSM) was implemented for the modeling and optimization of drug loading into the aerogel matrix. The temperature (40-60 degrees C), pressure (8-24 MPa) and drug solution concentration (0.2-0.6 M) were considered as the range of operating variables. The prepared aerogels were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and N-2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The optimal operating conditions were determined to be the pressure of 8 MPa, the temperature of 40 degrees C and the drug solution concentration of 0.2 M in which the maximum drug loading (DL) of 33% was achieved. The RSM verified that R-2 and modified R-2 of the model were 98.53% and 97.25%, respectively. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.