The Immobilization of Antineoplastic Drug Cyclophosphamide in Calcium Alginate

IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used for the study of formation of calcium alginate particles. The synthesis was carried out in an aqueous medium via reaction between sodium alginate and calcium chloride. It was found that calcium alginate particles with a homogeneous and dense structure were formed at concentrations 2 wt % and 0.1 M of sodium alginate and calcium chloride, respectively. Formation of calcium alginate particles in the systems containing chitosan was accompanied by the emergence of an adsorption layer of chitosan on the particle surface. The thickness of this layer increased with the enhancement of chitosan concentration. The release kinetics of cyclophosphamide from calcium alginate particles in physiological solution in vitro was investigated. The results showed that such factors as elevated temperature at the drying of calcium alginate particles, the increase in the amount of guluronate in the initial sodium alginate, and thickening of the chitosan adsorbed layer led to a significant decrease in the release rate.