CHARACTERISTICS OF ASCORBIC ACID RELEASE FROM TPP-CROSSLINKED CHITOSAN/ALGINATE POLYELECTROLYTE COMPLEX MEMBRANES

Chitosan/alginate polyelectrolyte complex membranes (Ch/Alg) additionally cross-linked with tripolyphosphate (TPP) and containing ascorbic acid (AA) were prepared. The dynamic swelling behaviour of Ch/Alg/TPP and ascorbic acid release from the membrane were characterised in different buffer solutions. It has been found that the pH of the buffer solution affects the swelling and release behaviour of AA. Ascorbic acid release, observed over a period of 360 min, exhibited a biphasic pattern, characterised by a fast initial burst release, followed by a slow, sustained release. Different mathematical models were used to study the kinetics and transport mechanism of AA from Ch/Alg/TPP hydrogels. Drug release data were fitted to the zero order kinetic model and first order kinetic model. To characterise the drug mechanism, the release data were fitted to the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas equations. The initial burst AA release followed zero order kinetics and was quasi-Fickian in nature. The second step of AA release followed first order kinetics.