Preparation of alginate gel beads containing chitosan nicotinic acid salt and the functions.

Calcium-induced alginate gel beads containing chitosan salt (Alg-CS) was prepared using nicotinic acid (NA), a drug for hyperlipidemia, and investigated its two functions in gastrointestinal tract, (a) NA release from Alg-CS, (b) uptake of bile acids into Alg-CS. The amount of NA incorporated in Alg-CS increased according to increment of CS content. NA was rapidly released from Alg-CS in diluted HCl solution (pH 1.2) or physiological saline without disintegration of the beads. When Alg-CS was placed in bile acid solution it took bile acid into itself. About 80% of taurocholic acid dissolved in the medium was taken into Alg-CS. According to increment of bile acid concentration, the uptake amount increased and an approximately linear relationship existed among them.