Magnetic N-succinyl chitosan/alginate beads for carbamazepine delivery

Abstract

Context: Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. The most optimal use of drugs was limited due to their widespread systemic and central side effects. In contrast, focal drug delivery to epileptogenic focus based on superparamagnetic carrier is considered to be a promising and safe alternative. This delivery system could arrive exactly at the targeted tissue and deliver the loaded drug there with the help of an external magnetic field. Objective: A new magnetic delivery system was established to inhibit paradoxical discharge once the onset of seizures. Materials and methods: Carbamazepine was incorporated into N-succinyl chitosan (NSC)/alginate hydrogel beads by ionic interaction. The characteristics of the beads including morphology, release behavior, and magnetic property were also investigated. Results: Acceptable spherical morphology, excellent slow-release property, and superparamagnetic property of the NSC/alginate hydrogel beads were observed. Discussion and conclusion: The magnetic NSC/alginate beads may be acted as a sustained-release formulation. The drugs exhibit the potential magnetic property owing to Fe3O4 particles. It is promising that the released drugs are induced by the weak magnetic field of epileptogenic zone and have the potential of locating them so as to inhibit paradoxical discharge once the onset of seizures.

Keywords:

• Carbamazepine
• delivery properties
• hydrogel
• N-succinyl chitosan
• superparamagnetic

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Lanzhou Science and Technology Fund, China (Grant No. 2009-1-55).

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.