Tailoring size and release kinetics of κ/ι-hybrid carrageenan microgels via a surfactant-assisted technique

Abstract

κ/ι-Hybrid carrageenan microgels were prepared to be used as drug delivery systems. A surfactant-assisted microemulsion technique was used. Tween^® 80 was used as surfactant and enrofloxacin was used as a model drug. The results showed that the amount of surfactant used during processing determines the size of the microgels as well as the amount of enrofloxacin that can be loaded. At low surfactant content, the initial burst release effect is dominant whereas at high surfactant content the burst release effect is negligible and the Fickian diffusion mechanism is dominant.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Carrageenan
• drug delivery
• enrofloxacin
• microgels

Acknowledgments

The Institute of Polymer Science and Technology of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (ICTP-CSIC, Madrid, Spain) is acknowledged for experimental assistance.

Additional information

Funding

The Vice-Rectorate for Research (VRI-PUCP) of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru and the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC-FONDECYT) are greatly acknowledged for financial support.