Vidart J., Nakashima M., da Silva T., Rosa P., Gimenes M., Vieira M., da Silva M., 2016, Sericin and Alginate Blend as Matrix for Incorporation of Diclofenac Sodium, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 52, 343-348.
Diclofenac sodium (DS) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory widely used clinically and has recurring side effects in gastrointestinal system. In addition, it requires multiple daily doses to maintain its therapeutic drug- blood level. Therefore, the modification of the form of presentation of the DS becomes desirable to improve patient compliance and decrease side effects. Sericin is a globular protein that offers many desirable characteristics for the incorporation of drugs. It is presented in the silkworm cocoons (Bombyx mori) and is usually discarded in the wastewater of degumming silk processing. Sodium alginate is a natural polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed that has an abundant use in drug delivery systems. The blend of sericin and alginate may provide characteristics more suitable for improving the encapsulation. The aim of the current work is to evaluate the content of DS incorporated in sericin/alginate particles. The sericin solution was obtained by degumming process in autoclave (1 kgf/cm2, 40 min) and the sodium alginate used was of analytical grade (Sigma-Aldrich). Blends of sericin and alginate with DS incorporated were produced in various formulations. These blends were dripped in CaCl2 solution, in the ionic gelation technique, in order to produce the particles. The different formulations used were compared by evaluating the efficiency of incorporation of DS in the sericin/alginate particles. Additionally, the surface morphology was analyzed by SEM - Scanning Electron Microscopy, and the size of the particles was evaluated by OM - Optical Microscopy. The results showed that the efficiency of incorporation reached values in the range of 91.1 ± 2.4 % to 75.5 ± 2.1 %, and the SEM analysis proved the incorporation of the drug in the blend matrix.
