Preparation of polyelectrolyte/calcium phosphate hybrids for drug delivery application.

Biocompatible and biodegradable polyelectrolyte complex consisting of carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CHI) were studied as a template for calcium phosphate biomimetic mineralization. CMC/CHI/calcium phosphate hybrids were prepared using different concentrations of simulated body fluid (2, 5 and 10 × SBF) for producing hybrids with different organic/inorganic ratio. These hybrids were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The equilibrium swelling extents of the hybrids were found to be dependent on the inorganic % in the hybrids. The release profile of bovine serum albumin as a model drug in simulated intestine solution (pH 7.4) during 24h has established the efficiency of the hybrids as a sustained delivery system. The hybrids developed in this contribution exhibit a great potential in bone tissue engineering and drug delivery applications.