INCORPORATION AND RELEASE KINETICS OF ALPHA-BISABOLOL FROM PCL AND CHITOSAN/GUAR GUM MEMBRANES

• Main Authors: F. C. Bombaldi de Souza, R. F. Bombaldi de Souza, Â. M. Moraes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazilian Society of Chemical Engineering
• Series: Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering
• Subjects: Wound dressing; Membrane; Chitosan; Guar gum; Polycaprolactone; Alpha-bisabolol
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-66322016000300453&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract Alpha-bisabolol, an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound extracted from candeia trees (Eremanthus erythropappus), was incorporated into hydrophobic polycaprolactone (PCL) and hydrophilic chitosan/guar gum (Ch-G) membranes aiming at the production of bioactive wound dressings. The incorporation efficiency achieved a maximum of ca. 18% (1 gram of alpha-bisabolol per gram of membrane) for Ch-G membranes. For PCL membranes, all of the active compound added was retained (0.2 gram of alpha-bisabolol per gram of membrane). Alpha-bisabolol release in phosphate-buffered saline was relatively slow in both cases, reaching around 6% and 24% after 120 hours respectively for PCL and Ch-G membranes presenting equivalent initial alpha-bisabolol/membrane mass ratios. Both formulations were capable of releasing alpha-bisabolol in the typically recommended topical dose range (from 1 to 10 grams of alpha-bisabolol per gram of vehicle). The extended release periods observed are advantageous, allowing less frequent dressing changes and contributing to turn the treatment more comfortable for the patient.