Polyethylene-Starch Extrudates as Erodible Carriers for Bioactive Materials: I. Erodibility and in vitro Dye Release Studies

Abstract

The objective of the present investigation is to develop and evaluate polyethylene-starch based carriers for sustaining the release of bioactive materials. Polyethylene-starch carriers were prepared by incorporating various amounts of corn starch 0, 40, 80, and 100% in polyethylene beads with and without dye. Acid orange dye was incorporated (1%) to study release patterns and the effect of starch (%) on release. The granulated mixtures were extruded to form uniform dispersions of starch and polyethylene throughout the extrudate. The extrudates obtained were studied for SEM surface characterization before, during, and after release studies to study the erosion process. In the case of 100% starch, 80% of the matrix was eroded in 5 weeks, while with 40% and 80% starch, erosion was less than 20%. The dye release studies showed that release could be sustained well over 12 weeks, depending on the starch (%) incorporated. The erosion process was studied using scanning electron microscopic techniques, which showed gradual erosion of starch particles, leaving a polyethylene skeleton. These materials show promising potential for use as carriers for bioactive materials.

Potato Starch Edible Films as Environmentally Friendly Carriers for Model Drug: In vitro Release Study

“…The edibility of prepared films, without dye, was investigated according to a protocol published elsewhere [1]. Concisely, 5 centimetres pieces were cut, precisely weighed, and placed in flasks beside with 20 mL of aqueous solution.…”

“…The release experiment was taken from literature with slight modification [1]. Polymer film loaded with fluorescein dye was used for this purpose.…”

“…The continuous release of drugs from polymeric carriers plays a vital role in therapeutic treatment of several diseases [1]. Synthetic polymers like polyethylene has been applied as a drug carrier in diverse forms such as tubes, implantable chambers, and capsules [1].…”

“…The continuous release of drugs from polymeric carriers plays a vital role in therapeutic treatment of several diseases [1]. Synthetic polymers like polyethylene has been applied as a drug carrier in diverse forms such as tubes, implantable chambers, and capsules [1]. Although polyethylene was found suitable as a carrier for bioactive materials, its decay lifetime is very long reach up to 1000 years, this causes in many problems for the environment like marine, since polyethylene kill many living organisms present in sea [1,2].…”

“…Synthetic polymers like polyethylene has been applied as a drug carrier in diverse forms such as tubes, implantable chambers, and capsules [1]. Although polyethylene was found suitable as a carrier for bioactive materials, its decay lifetime is very long reach up to 1000 years, this causes in many problems for the environment like marine, since polyethylene kill many living organisms present in sea [1,2]. Plastic edibility could be chemical or biological, the latter is a natural process in which the decay of materials results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or algae [3][4][5][6].…”