Journal of Chemical Engineering & Process Technology
Open Access
ISSN: 2157-7048
ISSN: 2157-7048
Joana M R Curto and Flavia P Morais
University of Beira Interior, Portugal
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Chem Eng Process Technol
The design of drug delivery systems (DDS) made from cellulose building blocks at nano and microscale was done to obtain structures with the desired porosity, and therefore to control the release kinetics of the molecule that is being delivery. The DDS were developed to transport the therapeutic molecule Diclofenac, which is a very effective non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug but induces important gastric mucosa side effects during long term therapeutics. The objective is to develop a biocompatible polymeric system that can retain the drug, avoid its release at the acidic stomach pH, and release it at the alkaline duodenum pH. In the experimental and computational plan design several cellulose based materials were used: carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC) having different dimensions and functional bonding groups. The structural characterization was done using SEM image analysis and the pore optimization was done using a validated computational simulator. The results indicated that it was possible to obtain DDS with different pore dimensions and the better combinations were chosen. The nanofibrillated cellulose and microfibrillated were used to form a 3D porous network and the CMC was used to control OH bonding and water affinity. Optimization of the 3D porosity, pore dimension and distribution proved to be determinant to obtain a structure that was able to retain de drug and to release it at alkaline pH. Innovative DDS made form biopolymers have been developed to avoid Diclofenac release in the stomach and prevent the related side effects. The computational simulation proved to be an useful tool to predict the porosity for different combinations of nano and micro fibrillated cellulose fibrous materials. The method used to design these cellulosic porous materials can be used in the formation of other porous materials made from the assembly of polymeric structural units. Recent Publications: 1. Moulton S, Wallace G (2014) 3-dimensional (3D) fabricated polymer based drug delivery systems., J. Control. Release 193:27��? 34. 2. Safari J, Zarnegar Z (2014) Advanced drug delivery systems: Nanotechnology of health design: A review, J. Saudi Chem. Soc.18:5-99. 3. Curto, J et al (2015) Development of an Innovative 3D Simulator for Structured Polymeric Fibrous Materials and Liquid Droplets, in Mechanical and Materials Engineering of Modern Structure and Component Design, Advanced Structured Materials, Springer International Publishing, 301-321. 4. Curto, J et al (2011) Three dimensional modelling of fibrous materials and experimental validation, Materialwiss. Werkst., 42:370-374. 5. Jordi, M, Foster, E (2015) Recent advances in nanocellulose for biomedical applications, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 132:41719.
Joana Curto has her expertise as a Chemistry Assistant Professor in the development of cellulosic materials for medicinal applications. Her method to design drug delivery systems is based on experimental and computational research developed during her PhD and originated several publication and thesis in porous polymeric materials. She has more than two decades of experience at University of Beira Interior and University of Coimbra research Units and coordinates several cellulose research programs in collaboration with International Research Centers.