Encapsulation of Folic Acid in Zeolite Y for Controlled Release via Electric Field

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Zeolite Y/alginate hydrogel was used as a drug carrier/matrix for an electrophoresis transdermal drug delivery system. Folic acid (FA) as a model drug was loaded into the zeolite Y/alginate hydrogel via an ion-exchange process. The effects of cross-linking ratio, Si/Al ratio, electric field strength, and electrode polarity were investigated with respect to the release mechanism and diffusion coefficient (D) of FA using a modified Franz-diffusion cell. The FA was released from the matrix through the diffusion-controlled mechanism or Fickian diffusion because the diffusion scaling exponent value of FA was close to the value of 0.5. The D increased with an increasing cross-linking ratio and Si/Al ratio due to the mesh-size-promoting and the aluminum-content effects. The electric field strength enhanced the D of FA from the anode–FA electroreplusion. In addition, the D of FA could be varied by the electro-attractive or electro-repulsive force between the positively charged FA and the charged electrode depending on whether cathode or anode was placed on the drug matrix. Thus, the fabricated zeolite/hydrogel is of great potential to be used in an electrically controlled transdermal drug delivery system where drug diffusion can be precisely activated and controlled at the time of application.
Funding Information
  • Thailand Research Fund (PHD/0285/2551)
  • Royal Thai Government
  • Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund, Chulalong University
  • Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University

This publication has 43 references indexed in Scilit: