Suitability of gamma irradiated chitosan based membranes as matrix in drug release system

• Published in: International journal of pharmaceutics 2010-08, Vol.395 (1), p.142-146
• Main Authors: Casimiro, M.H., Gil, M.H., Leal, J.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - radiation effects; Anti-Infective Agents - toxicity; Antimicrobial activity; Bandages; Biological and medical sciences; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Chitosan; Chitosan - chemistry; Chitosan - pharmacology; Chitosan - radiation effects; Chitosan - toxicity; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers; Drug Compounding; Drug release; Gamma Rays; General pharmacology; Haemolysis; Hemolysis - drug effects; Medical sciences; Membranes, Artificial; Methacrylates - chemistry; Methacrylates - pharmacology; Methacrylates - radiation effects; Methacrylates - toxicity; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Rabbits; Radiation polymerization; Radiosterilization; Sterilization - methods; Technology, Pharmaceutical - methods
• ISSN: 0378-5173; 1873-3476
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2010.05.034

To test the possibility of obtain a material simultaneously biocompatible and microbiologically safe to be used as wound dressing material and as a matrix for drug release system, membranes with different initial contents in chitosan and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) have been prepared by gamma irradiation from a 60Co source. The antimicrobial activity of obtained membranes against several reference strains was evaluated after inoculation. Sub-lethal gamma radiation doses were also applied in artificially contaminated membranes and the D values of microorganisms in use were determined in order to predict which radiation dose could guarantee membranes microbiological safety. In vitro haemolysis tests were also performed using drug loaded membranes irradiated at different doses. Results point out that those membranes naturally exhibit antimicrobial properties. Also show that, over the studied range values, drug loaded irradiated membranes display a non-significant level of haemolysis. These features show that the application of prepared membranes as a transdermal drug release system “ready to use” is viable.