Development of Gelatin/Misoprostol Compounds for Use in Pregnancy Failures

Abstract

Early abortion is one of the most common complications during pregnancy. However, the frequent handling of the genital region, more precisely the vagina, which causes discomfort to patients in this abortion process due to the frequency of drug insertion, as four pills are inserted every six hours, has led to the search for alternatives to alleviate the suffering caused by this practice in patients who are already in a shaken emotional state. Hence, this work aimed to develop composites of gelatin and misoprostol, using a conventional single-dose drug delivery system. These composites were prepared by freeze/lyophilization technique, by dissolving the gelatin in distilled water, with a concentration of 2.5% (w/v), and misoprostol was incorporated into the gelatin solution at the therapeutic concentration (800 mcg). They were subsequently molded, frozen and lyophilized. The samples of the composites were then crosslinked with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) 1% (v/v) with respect to the gelatin mass for 5 min. The characterization techniques used were: Optical Microscopy (OM), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetry (TG), Swelling, Biodegradation and Cytotoxicity. In OM it was observed that the addition of the drug improved the cylindrical appearance of the compounds, in comparison with the sample that was composed of only gelatin. There was a reduction in the degree of swelling with the addition of the drug and crosslinking. The cytotoxicity test indicated the biocompatibility of the material. Based on the results obtained in these tests, the composites have therapeutic potential for uterine emptying in pregnancy failures, especially in the first trimester.

Characterization of Tuna Gelatin-Based Hydrogels as a Matrix for Drug Delivery

“…Similarly, the next weight-loss stage (12%) of the drug-loaded hydrogels occurred at a slighter lower temperature (300 • C) in comparison with the gelatin hydrogel (310 • C and loss of 16%) which is likely related to the degradation of the larger or associated protein fragments. The temperature difference between the gelatin hydrogel and the drugloaded tuna hydrogels reinforces the previously observed indications about the interaction between the drug and gelatin molecules [32][33][34]. The last exhibited degradation stage at 600 • C has been attributed to the thermal decomposition of the gelatin network due to the formation of covalent bonds in the gelatin network that leads to higher thermal stability.…”

Design of a New 3D Gelatin—Alginate Scaffold Loaded with Cannabis sativa Oil

“…GEL–ALG spectrum shows a broad band at 3272 cm − 1 , assigned to NH and OH stretching vibrations of amides, and a peak at 1641 cm − 1 that corresponds to the coupling of C=O and CN stretching vibrations of amide I of gelatin [ 58 ] with the asymmetric stretching vibrations of COO- of alginate [ 59 ]. The peak at 1542 cm − 1 is assigned to NH and CN vibration of groups in amide II of gelatin [ 60 ], while the signals at 1031 and 1079 cm − 1 are attributed to vibration of C-O and CO-C groups in mannuronic and guluronic units of alginate [ 61 ], respectively. The broad peak observed at 3308 cm − 1 in the FTIR spectrum of CS represents the OH stretching vibrational band and the signals at 2925 and 2875 cm − 1 correspond to the symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of CH alkane groups.…”