Filmes poliméricos desintegráveis a partir de blendas de gelatina - quitosana

Abstract

The animal gelatine is a natural protein denatured obtained by hydrolysis of collagen, a fibrous protein found in skin and bones of bovine and porcine animals. Main component in the manufacture of hard and soft gelatin capsules with various applications in other areas such as the food industry and even photography. Due to its characteristics of no toxicity and is compatible with the human organism, is widely used as a biomaterial. Chitosan is a natural biopolymer obtained by deacetylation of chitin, a natural polysaccharide, non-toxic and biodegradable obtained from the exoskeleton of some crustaceans, is considered the second most abundant of nature. This compound has been widely studied as a potential biomaterial application in the medical and pharmaceutical areas. The polymer blends are mixtures of at least two polymers combined. It is great importance in the biomaterials area since its use has been employed to improve the cost-performance ratio in commercial products. This work aimed at the development of new formulations of polymeric films disintegrable from gelatin-chitosan blends. These films may be used in controlled drug delivery systems or in enteric capsules. For this purpose, disintegration tests were performed on the films to verify the time required for the rupture or opening of the film, necessary for the release of the drug in the medium. The results obtained showed that the chitosan present in the samples increases the time required for disintegration of the material. In the films obtained from the compositions of chitosan-gelatin blends, pH measurement tests and characterization analyzes were also performed, such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), spectroscopy in the region of infrared (IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These analyzes were used to characterize the formed blends and to study their properties. The results showed that there was compatibility between gelatine and chitosan in the formation of blends.