Preparation and characterization of magnetic alginate-chitosan hydrogel beads loaded matrine.

The aim of this study was to use alginate-chitosan (Alg-CS) hydrogel beads for developing an oral water-soluble drug delivery system, occupying pH-sensitive property and superparamagnetic. Matrine as a model drug was loaded in Alg-CS hydrogel beads to study the release character of the delivery system. The amount of matrine released from the beads was relatively low in pH 2.5 over 8 h (34.90%), but nearly all of the initial drug content was released in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, pH 6.8) within 8 h. The results demonstrated that Alg-CS hydrogel beads possess unique pH-dependent swelling behaviors. In addition, the magnetic beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffractometry and vibrating-sample magnetometry. Magnetometer measurements data suggested that Alg-CS beads also had superparamagnetic property as well as fast magnetic response. It can be expected that the beads can deliver and release encapsulated anticancer agent at the tumor by the weak magnetic field, and hence could be potential candidates as an orally administered drug delivery system.