In this research; the release of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) from different ionically crosslinked alginate (Alg) beads was investigated by using Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ca²⁺, ions as crosslinking agent. The prepared beads were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Scanning Electron Micros-copy (SEM). The drug release studies were carried out at three pH values 1.2, 6.8 and 7.4 respectively each for two hours. The effects of the preparation conditions as crosslinker type, drug/polymer (w/w) ratio, crosslinker concentration and time of exposure to crosslinker on the release of 5-FU were investigated for 6 hours at 37℃. It was observed that 5-FU release from the beads followed the order of Fe > Zn > Al > Ca-Alg and increased with increasing drug/polymer ratio. At the end of 6 hours, the highest 5-FU release was found to be 90% (w/w) for Fe-Alg beads at the drug/polymer ratio of 1/8 (w/w), crosslinker concentration of 0.05 M, exposure time of 10 minutes respectively. The swelling measurements of the beads supported the release results. Release kinetics was described by Fickian and non-Fickian approaches

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In this work, we have formulated novel nanospheres that could be used in the controlled release of the anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The nanospheres are composed of magnetite, containing chitosan (CS) and methylcellulose (MC). The drug entrapment was achieved through the encapsulation and adsorption processes. The effects of the preparation conditions, such as magnetite content, CS/MC ratio, crosslinking concentration, exposure time to glutaraldehyde (GA), and the drug/polymer ratio were investigated for both processes. The 5-FU release was found to follow the Fickian mechanism, and the Langmuir isotherm for the nanospheres was achieved through encapsulation and adsorption processes, respectively.

Ionically crosslinked microspheres of acrylamide (AAm) grafted poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/ sodium alginate (NaAlg) were prepared by crosslinking with FeCl 3 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which is an anticancer drug and was successfully encapsulated into the microspheres. The graft copolymer (PVA-g-PAAm) was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and elemental analysis. The prepared microspheres were characterized by FTIR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microspheres were also characterized by particle diameter, equilibrium swelling values and release profiles. The release studies were carried out at three pH values 1.2, 6.8 and 7.4, respectively, each for 2 h. The effects of preparation conditions as PVA-g-PAAm/NaAlg ratio, drug/polymer ratio, crosslinker concentration and exposure time to FeCl 3 on the release of 5-FU were investigated for 6 h at 37 C. The highest 5-FU release was found to be as 99.57% (w/w) at the end of 6 h for PVA-g-PAAm/NaAlg ratio of 1:4 (w/w), drug/ polymer ratio of 1:8 (w/w), crosslinker concentration of 0.05 M and exposure time of 10 min. The release results were also supported by the swelling measurements of the microspheres. Release kinetics was described by Fickian and non-Fickian approaches.