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An Experimental Design Approach for Development of Crocin-Loaded Microparticles Embedded in Gelatin/Oxidized Alginate-Based Hydrogel

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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to prepare gelatin/oxidized alginate (OAlg) hydrogel incorporating chitosan (CS)/alginate (Alg) microparticles (MPs) for topical delivery of crocin and maintaining MPs at the target site.

Methods

Crocin-loaded MPs were prepared using the ionic gelation method, and the effects of CS, Alg, and tripolyphosphate (TPP) concentrations on particle size and entrapment efficiency% (EE) were evaluated by applying a factorial design. OAlg was synthesized, and the optimum MP formulation was loaded into gelatin/OAlg hydrogel. The developed formulation was characterized in terms of morphology, chemical structure, crystallinity, thermal behavior, viscosity, swelling behavior, mucoadhesion, and in vitro release profile.

Results

The designed particles had a size ranging from 7.2 to 47.8 µm with the EE results varying between 12.5 and 58.4%. The mathematical models with suitable determination coefficients (R2) were established which confirmed a satisfactory correlation between the independent variables and the results. The optimized formulation showed a particle size of ~ 28 µm and a zeta potential of ~ 24 mV with about 58% crocin entrapment. The successful oxidation process was confirmed by the appearance of aldehyde peak in FTIR spectroscopy, and the oxidation degree (OD) of prepared OAlg was found to be about 62%. The prepared complex could release crocin in a sustained manner through 48 h and showed superior mucoadhesive strength, compared to gelatin/Alg-based hydrogel.

Conclusion

The fabricated gelatin/OAlg hydrogel containing CS/Alg MPs exhibited the promising potential to be utilized in mucosal delivery applications.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Protein Technology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Faezeh Merati

  2. Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 14155-6153, Tehran, Iran

    Fatemeh Mehryab, Seyed Alireza Mortazavi & Azadeh Haeri

  3. Protein Technology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Azadeh Haeri

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  1. Faezeh Merati
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  2. Fatemeh Mehryab
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Correspondence to Azadeh Haeri.

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Merati, F., Mehryab, F., Mortazavi, S.A. et al. An Experimental Design Approach for Development of Crocin-Loaded Microparticles Embedded in Gelatin/Oxidized Alginate-Based Hydrogel. J Pharm Innov 18, 1812–1826 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12247-023-09755-0

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