The conventional pectin delivery systems in the colon
are often
impaired by a slow release rate. Nanostructured particles, especially
porous ones, have gained popularity as drug delivery systems owing
to their high mass transfer efficiency. In this research, porous pectin
particles were synthesized as drug carriers (using indomethacin as
a model drug) via template-assisted spray drying. Specific surface
areas of the porous pectin particles have been improved by up to 203
m2 g–1 compared with nonporous particles
(1 m2 g–1). The porous structure shortened
the diffusion path and improved the release rate of drug molecules.
Additionally, the predominant drug release mechanism from porous pectin
particles is Fickian diffusion, which is different from the combination
of erosion and diffusion mechanism observed for nonporous particles.
As a result, these porous drug-loaded pectin particles demonstrated
rapid drug release rates of up to three times faster than nonporous
particles. Control of the release rate could be achieved by changing
the porous structure of the particles. This strategy is an efficient
means to synthesize porous particles allowing rapid drug release into
the colonic target.
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