In vitro release modulation from crosslinked pellets for site-specific drug delivery to the gastrointestinal tract. II. Physicochemical characterization of calcium-alginate, calcium-pectinate and calcium-alginate-pectinate pellets.

Pellets of calcium-alginate, calcium-pectinate and calcium-alginate-pectinate were produced via crosslinking in an aqueous medium for site-specific drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract. A comparative study of their physicochemical characteristics by means of texture analysis, modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MTDSC), scanning electron microscopy and swelling dynamics under different pH conditions was undertaken. It was found that the incorporation of low methoxylated pectin (i.e., degree of methoxylation approximately 35%) together with alginate appears to influence the degree of crosslinking and subsequently the physical, mechanical and resilience behavior. In general, texture analysis of various pellets indicated that both strength and resilience profiles were in the order of calcium-alginate>/=calcium-alginate-pectinate>calcium-pectinate. Calcium-alginate pellets were found to be viscoelastic, while calcium-pectinate was highly brittle. Through the application of MTDSC, depolymerization transitions, reversing and non-reversing heat flow were determined and interpreted for each formulation. Scanning electron microscopy and micro-thermal analysis revealed distinct morphological differences in each case. The influence of and nature of crosslinking, and textural properties of such pellets on drug release rate modulation is discussed.