Mesoporous starch aerogels production as drug delivery matrices: synthesis optimization, ibuprofen loading, and release property

Comparative study of the structure and mechanical properties of starch aerogels fabricated from air-classified and isolated pulse starches

Significant amounts of starch and protein are generated as co-products during fractionation of pulse seeds. While pulse proteins (PP) have garnered a lot of interest in numerous applications, little attention is shown to pulse starch (PS). The creation of novel materials such as bioplastics could revolutionize the use of pulse starches. In this study, we investigated the prospects of air-classified and isolated pea, lentil, and faba bean starches as a precursor for fabricating pulse starch bioaerogels (PSBs) via freeze-drying technique. The results evidenced ultra-low densities (<0.1 m2/g), mesopore sizes (2-50 μm), high porosities (∼99 %), low surface areas (SBET = ∼4-18 m2/g) for all the aerogels. The adsorption isotherm showed typical Type II and III profiles, while the thermogravimetric analysis showed more weight loss (74.39-78.12 %) in aerogels mostly developed from isolated starches. Microstructural studies showed a unique distribution of pores within the developed aerogels. FTIR and XPS studies confirmed the presence of an amide (I, II, III) at different absorption bands range (∼1600-1200 cm-1) and functional groups (carboxylic group and the amide group), respectively. All the PSBs became stiffer with a corresponding increase in load, and a reversible deformation in the linear region was identified at <5 % strain. Comparatively, saturated PSBs from air-classified starch at a relative humidity of 95 % showed a drastic reduction in their compressive moduli (CM), while PSBs from isolated starch experienced markedly high CM. Moisture saturation was achieved at 72 h for all the samples. This study provides crucial information that could spark a keen interest in the use of non-conventional starch for the creation of novel and sustainable biobased products with expanded applications.

Application of protein/polysaccharide aerogels in drug delivery system: A review

Drug delivery systems have emerged as a prominent research focus in the field of drug development, offering enhanced stability and improved bioavailability. Among them, protein (silk, gelatin and whey) or polysaccharide (alginate, chitosan, cellulose, starch, pectin and carrageenan) aerogels derived from natural sources have gained increasing popularity due to their unique advantages, such as cost-effectiveness, flexible preparation, bioactivity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, despite their growing significance, there remains a lack of comprehensive information and ongoing confusion regarding the application of protein/polysaccharide aerogels in drug delivery system. Hence, the objective of this review was to provide a comprehensive review of the research progress in protein/polysaccharide aerogels for drug delivery systems from the perspective of aerogels category, synthesis strategy, drug-loading method, performance characteristic and release mechanism. Furthermore, by consolidating the existing information, we aimed to present our own perspectives and insights on the future development of protein/polysaccharide aerogels in drug delivery system. In conclusion, this comprehensive review served as a valuable resource for researchers and scholars, addressing the current gaps in knowledge and clarifying the complex landscape of protein/polysaccharide aerogels in drug delivery system.

Mesoporous Starch Cryoaerogel Material as an Emerging Platform for Oral Drug Delivery: Synthesis and In Vitro Evaluation

In this study, a starch cryoaerogel formulation was developed as a carrier for poorly water-soluble drugs, like atorvastatin. Cryoaerogels were generated through a sol-gel method combined with a freeze-drying technique, and atorvastatin was incorporated into the obtained mesoporous systems during the solvent exchange stage. The formulated drug-loaded polymer structures were characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties, solid-state behavior, and cytotoxicity. They had a pore size of 27.56 nm and a drug loading size of 38.60%. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses indicated that atorvastatin was successfully incorporated into the cryoaerogel pores. The amorphous nature of the loaded drug was confirmed via X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, after the atorvastatin incorporation into the cryogel, the volume of nitrogen adsorbed on one gram of cryoaerogel (Vm), as well as the specific surface area (aBET) were reduced. The comparison between the drug release profiles of crystalline atorvastatin and the loaded formulation of atorvastatin showed that by including the drug into the pores of the developed cryoaerogel matrix its solubility was significantly improved-the time for the dissolution of 30% pure atorvastatin (t30%) was approximately 4 h, whereas the determined t30% for the formulated cryoaerogels was only 1 h. Moreover, the data from the MTT assay illustrated that the designed cryoaerogel could be used as a safe oral atorvastatin delivery system. According to obtained results, it could be concluded that the starch cryoaerogel formulation is a promising candidate for oral delivery of poorly water-soluble therapeutic agents.

Sorafenib tosylate incorporation into mesoporous starch xerogel for in-situ micronization and oral bioavailability enhancement

Poorly water-soluble drugs like sorafenib tosylate (SFB) can be made more soluble and orally bioavailable using a biocompatible hydrophilic matrix yields amorphous or microcrystalline drugs with high stability and low recrystallization risk. Mesoporous starch (MPS) due to its edibility, biodegradability, high surface area, and confined pores. In this study, MPS, either alone or in combination with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), was employed for improving SFB oral bioavailability. To this aim, MPS was prepared in three steps: gelatinization, solvent exchange, and vacuum drying, after which it was used to incorporate SFB at various ratios using the immersion/solvent evaporation technique. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) crystallography, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize SFB-loaded and drug-free samples, which confirmed the successful preparation of mesoporous structures with desirable uniform porosity, small pore size (about 5.3 nm), and specific surface area of about 24 m²/g. In-vitro dissolution testing revealed that the SFB dissolution rate increased substantially for the loaded MPS or MPS-PVP samples. Furthermore, when SFB was loaded in MPS-PVP, single-dose pharmacokinetics in rats confirmed an enhanced oral absorption kinetic. Therefore, impregnation of poorly soluble drugs such as SFB in the PVP-modified MPS excipient, which is constructed from a combination of mesoporous materials and a drug recrystallization inhibitor such as hydrophilic polymers, is proposed as a promising strategy for desirable enhancements in drug solubility, oral bioavailability, and efficacy.