Hybrid bacterial cellulose - pectin films for delivery of bioactive molecules

CACICEDO, MAXIMILIANO LUIS; ISLAN, GERMAN A; DRACHEMBERG, MARIA FLORENCIA; ALVAREZ, V.; BARTEL, LAURA; BOLZAN, ALEJANDRO; CASTRO, GUILLERMO R.

NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Año: 2018

1144-0546

Novel biopolymeric films based on bacterial cellulose (BC) modified with high methoxylated pectin (HMP) were developed for drug delivery. The ability of films to incorporate an antibiotic, levofloxacin (Levo), was analyzed. Incorporation efficiencies were determined using films with different proportions of HMP (from 0.1% to 2.0%) with a maximum drug payload of 6.23 mg/g. Characterization studies revealed the existence of a cooperative network between both polymers and deep structural changes in BC matrix. Besides, HMP presence decreased water loss in the BC film from 93% to 75% after 90 min. Additionally, film incorporation capacity of macromolecules, using Human Serum Albumin (HSA) as a model protein, was studied. HMP presence enhanced in more than 3.5 times the EE of HSA and no pH dependence was observed.Release kinetics of both molecules showed hyperbolic profiles with sustained release. On independent experiments, HMP presence generated around 50% decrease on both macromolecules release rates. Additionally, the incorporation of HSA into BC-HMP matrix exhibitied a modulation on Levo release profile. The antimicrobial activity of Levo released from the BC-HMP-HSA films was confirmed using Staphylococcus aureus. In-vitro studies revealed no apparent cytotoxicity of the released compounds in mammalian CHO cells.