Effect of crosslinking and atomization parameters on the properties of alginate microparticles formed by ionic gelation

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.317382317033

• Palavras-chave: hydrogel; polysaccharide; morphology; size particle; stability; particles; spray

• Keywords: hydrogel; polysaccharide; morphology; size particle; stability; particles; spray

• Abstract:

  Sodium alginate is a non-toxic, biodegradable polysaccharide with high gelling capacity that makes it an excellent material for the development of delivery systems for drugs and bioactive compounds and various environmental applications. In this study, alginate microparticles were prepared through ionic gelation by atomization, varying the concentration of the CaCl₂ bath (3 and 6% m/m), air pressure (0.25 and 0.50 bar) and spraying distance (20 and 25 cm). The microparticles obtained were evaluated for size distribution, surface morphology and stability against different pHs (pH 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5) for 4 days. The atomization process produced particles with sizes between 83 and 146 μm with different morphologies (irregular, spherical or elliptical). It was observed that the particles produced with 0.25 bar underwent changes in size and morphology after 4 days depending on the pH of the medium. Samples produced at a concentration of 6% CaCl₂ showed larger sizes when compared to those formed with 3%, possibly due to the greater ionic strength of the solution. As for the spraying height, the samples produced at 25cm had a more spherical morphology than the others. These results allow the development of microparticles with desirable properties from the control of the conditions of the atomization and reticulation process.