Preparation and characterization of antibacterial magnetic-/pH-sensitive alginate/Ag/Fe3O4 hydrogel beads for controlled drug release

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 154; pp. 134 - 141
• Main Authors: Rashidzadeh, Bahaaldin, Shokri, Ebrahim, Mahdavinia, Gholam Reza, Moradi, Reza, Mohamadi-Aghdam, Sarvin, Abdi, Shadi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Ag nanoparticles; Alginate beads; alginates; Antibacterial activity; antibacterial properties; biopolymers; Controlled drug release; diclofenac; drug delivery systems; drugs; Escherichia coli; hydrogels; iron oxides; Magnetic-/pH-sensitive; magnetism; nanoparticles; nanosilver; pomegranate peels; scanning electron microscopy; silver; Staphylococcus aureus; swelling (materials); transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; Alginate beads; Antibacterial activity; Controlled drug release; Ag nanoparticles; Magnetic-/pH-sensitive
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.03.028

This work reports the synthesis of novel antibacterial magnetic-/pH-sensitive hydrogel beads based on ionotropic-gelation of alginate biopolymer. Using pomegranate peels extract, green-Ag nanoparticles were synthesized inside a mixture of alginate and Fe3O4, via in situ method. The alginate beads were investigated by VSM, TEM, XRD, and FE-SEM techniques. The introducing Ag and Fe3O4 nanoparticles in hydrogel beads caused a reduction in the swelling capacity of hydrogel beads. Besides, a pH-dependent swelling behavior was observed for hydrogel beads with a maximum swelling capacity at pH = 7.4. Diclofenac sodium (DS) as a model drug was loaded in hydrogel beads and its release showed a pH-dependent behavior. Drug release studies exhibited significant behaviors on the subject of physiological simulated pHs with a high release rate at pH = 7.4. The alginate beads have shown a prolonged and successive controlled drug release nearly 83% at pH = 7.4 and time 200 min. In addition to the pH, the release of DS from magnetic beads was affected by the external-magnetic-fields. Also, the Ag-incorporated alginate beads showed strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. These results indicated that the hydrogel beads have potentially applicable in drug delivery systems.