Alginates Combined with Natural Polymers as Valuable Drug Delivery Platforms

Abstract

Alginates (ALG) have been used in biomedical and pharmaceutical technologies for decades. ALG are natural polymers occurring in brown algae and feature multiple advantages, including biocompatibility, low toxicity and mucoadhesiveness. Moreover, ALG demonstrate biological activities per se, including anti-hyperlipidemic, antimicrobial, anti-reflux, immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory activities. ALG are characterized by gelling ability, one of the most frequently utilized properties in the drug form design. ALG have numerous applications in pharmaceutical technology that include micro- and nanoparticles, tablets, mucoadhesive dosage forms, wound dressings and films. However, there are some shortcomings, which impede the development of modified-release dosage forms or formulations with adequate mechanical strength based on pure ALG. Other natural polymers combined with ALG create great potential as drug carriers, improving limitations of ALG matrices. Therefore, in this paper, ALG blends with pectins, chitosan, gelatin, and carrageenans were critically reviewed.

Structure, Properties, and Recent Developments in Polysaccharide- and Aliphatic Polyester-Based Packaging—A Review

“…Depending on the plant source and the stage of plant development, the chemical composition and order of M and G units may differ [135]. The physical properties of alginates are affected by the percentage of the three types of blocks, and the hardness of the three blocks diminishes in the sequence GG > MM > MG [136]. Figure 11 depicts the chemical structure of M and G monomer blocks, and the various combinations of M and G blocks can produce at least 200 distinct alginates [137].…”

Bioactive injectable mucoadhesive thermosensitive natural polymeric hydrogels for oral bone and periodontal regeneration

“…Despite the numerous benefits of ALG, ALG-based drug delivery devices have disadvantages such as poor flexibility, inadequate mechanical characteristics, and brittleness. As a result, novel strategies to improve the properties of ALG preparations are required ( Szekalska et al, 2016 ; Kruk and Winnicka, 2022 ). COL and AG can operate together to bring together their beneficial attributes and overcome the limitations associated with every substance.…”

Mucoadhesive Alginate/Pectin Films Crosslinked by Calcium Carbonate as Carriers of a Model Antifungal Drug—Posaconazole

“…Accurately weighted films in the baskets (accessories from USP dissolution equipment) were situated in the beakers containing 15 mL SSS. Studies were conducted at the temperature of 37 ± 1 • C and at different time periods (5,10,15,30,45,60, 90 and 120 min). After a certain time, the baskets were taken out of the beakers and cautiously strained.…”

“…Despite the many significant advantages of ALG, ALG-based drug delivery systems also have limitations, such as low flexibility, poor mechanical properties and brittleness. Therefore, new solutions to improve the characteristics of ALG formulations are needed [5,6]. In our previous study, ALG buccal films with the addition of ALG oligosaccharides containing posaconazole (POS) as a model antifungal active substance were designed.…”