Gelatin-carrageenan hydrogels: role of pore size distribution on drug delivery process.

Naturally occurring biomaterials, such as gelatin and carrageenan are known to act as good drug delivering agents. The physical properties of these hydrogels are derived from their pore network. The effect of pore size distribution of hydrogel on the drug delivery process has been studied in this work. Gelatin-carrageenan hydrogel has been characterized using DSC, TGA and SEM. Thermoporometry technique has been used since it offers the measurement to be carried out in native state without drying the sample. Release of quercetin (Q,3,5,7,3',4'-pentahydroxyflavone), a member of the flavonoids family, which exerts many beneficial health effects has been studied using gelatin-carrageenan hydrogel. The addition of gelatin to carrageenan is found to improve the thermal stability of the gelatin-carrageenan fibers in the composite hydrogels. The in vitro drug release studies have shown that an increase in porosity results in the improved drug release. The tuning of pore size distribution for drug delivery applications using thermoporometry is feasible.