MODIFICATION OF PINEAPPLE FIBER AND APPLICATION IN DRUG DELIVERY

Abstract

At present, the agro-waste has become an environmental issue in many countries. According to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), reported that a pineapple waste in Thailand is more than 189 kilotons. This research investigated the chemical modification of cellulose fiber in the pineapple waste from pineapple juice production, in order to use as drug carrier material. Pineapple fiber waste was oxidized by sodium metaperiodate to obtain dialdehyde soluble cellulose. The optimized condition for the oxidation was 15 h treatment of the fiber with 0.137 M sodium metaperiodate at 55°C. The obtained polymer could dissolve well in aqueous medium and form Schiff base with amino group on minoxidil. The minoxidil-grafted dialdehyde soluble cellulose nanoparticles self-assembled into stable nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameters in the range of 110 to 300 nm. The encapsulation efficiency of minoxidil by the obtained cellulose was more than 88%, with the loading capacity of 85%. The prolonged drug release of minoxidil could be achieved when tested in acetate buffer solution pH 5.5, 37°C. It is expected that the obtained particles could be further developed for an androgenic alopecia treatment in the future.