Sericin is a protein present in the cocoon of silkworm silk (Bombyx mori), usually discarded in the effluent from the spinning process. The use of blends provides an improvement in the physical characteristics of the materials produced with the protein, and the use of alginate has the advantage because it has affinity for a variety of cations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the process of thermal crosslinking of the particles produced from the blend between sericin and alginate and metal affinity of these particles with zinc and copper metals. For this purpose, we evaluated the crosslinking temperatures of 40, 100, 125 and 150 °C. Subsequently, the particles were analyzed for the water solubility and its ability to adsorb metals in aqueous solution. The results indicated that the particles cross-linked at 100 ºC had smaller percentage of solubilized matter comparing with other temperatures. The results indicated that sericin/alginate particles had greater affinity to Cu 2+ than to Zn 2+ ions.

-The use of biodegradable polymers for controlled release drug delivery systems are being widely studied, because the therapeutic benefits that can be achieved. Studies have shown that exposure of diclofenac sodium (DS) in acid medium, such as occurring after oral ingestion of the drug, decreases the antiinflammatory activity. Thus, the incorporation of the drug into biopolymer particles becomes an alternative and the therapeutic effect is maintained due to the protection offered by the biomaterials. The objective of this study is to evaluate the incorporation of diclofenac sodium in particles formed from the blend of sericin and alginate subjected to gelation process with CaCl 2 . Incorporation efficiency measurement, interaction and morphology of the drug with mixtures of biopolymers were made. Also, the particle characterization was carried out to analyze the physical-chemical parameters, such as the determination of the property pH ZPC.