Research reports on drug delivery from La Sapienza University provide new insights
2007 NOV 19 -- "Hydrogels are hydrophilic macromolecular networks that are capable of retaining a large amount of water. A precise description of these systems is actually quite complex and the practical use of hydrogels for drug delivery and biomedical applications is often not supported by a well-defined knowledge of the overall structure of the polymeric network," investigators in Rome, Italy report. "In this paper, we report the characterization of two different systems: a chemical network based on Guar Gum (GG) and a physical gel prepared with Xanthan (Xanth) and Locust Bean Gum (LBG). The dynamo-mechanical properties of the gels were analysed: the cohesiveness and the adhesion of the networks were strongly dependent on time, temperature, and composition. The kinetics of the chemical crosslinking was followed by means of rheological measurements, i.e. recording the mechanical spectra of the gelling system, and the power law exponent at the gel point was evaluated. Furthermore, the networks, loaded with model drugs with different steric hindrance, were used as matrices for tablets and the rate of release of such model drugs was studied," wrote C. Sandolo and colleagues, La Sapienza University. The researchers concluded: "The diffusion of the guest molecules was deeply dependent on their dimensions; in the case of Xanth-LBG tablets the release profiles were almost independent from the different cohesion properties of the starting hydrogel composition." Sandolo and colleagues published their study in European Biophysics Journal with Biophysics Letters (Characterization of polysaccharide hydrogels for modified drug delivery. European Biophysics Journal with Biophysics Letters, 2007;36(7):693-700). For additional information, contact T. Coviello, Roma La Sapienza University, Faculty Pharmacy, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy. The publisher of the European Biophysics Journal with Biophysics Letters can be contacted at: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA. Keywords: Italy, Rome, Biotechnology, Drug Delivery, La Sapienza University. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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