Preparation and evaluation of drug release characteristic from crosslinked chitosan/silk fibroin blend films

Abstract

Crosslinked chitosan/silk fibroin blend films were prepared by solution casting using glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent. Drug release characteristics of the blend films with various blend compositions were investigated. Theophylline, diclofenac sodium, amoxicillin trihydrate and salicylic acid were used as model drugs. The release studies were carried out at 37C in buffer solutions at pH 2.0, 5.5 and 7.2. It was found that the blend film with 80% chitosan content showed the maximum amount of drug release at pH 2.0 for all types of drugs. From swelling study, the maximum degree of swelling of the drug-loaded blend films was also obtained at pH 2.0 and 80% chitosan content. The amounts of drugs released from films with 80% chitosan content were in the order: salicylic acid > theophylline> diclofenac sodium > amoxiclillin. The maximum amount of salicylic acid, theophylline, diclofenac socium and amoxicillin release from blend films with 80% chitosan content at pH 2.0 were 92.7%, 81.1%, 76.6% and 37.2%, respectively.