Preparation and characterization of free films of high amylose/pectin mixtures cross-linked with sodium trimetaphosphate.

Fabíola Garavello Prezotti, Andréia Bagliotti Meneguin, Raul Cesar Evangelista, Beatriz Stringhetti Ferreira Cury

Index: Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm. 38(11) , 1354-9, (2012)

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Abstract

High amylose and pectin were mixed at 1:1 mass ratio and cross-linked with sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) in alkaline medium. Films were prepared from aqueous dispersions of these cross-linked polymer blend at three different concentrations (3, 4 and 5%), by solvent casting method. Characterization of the films included thickness, surface morphology, water uptake, water vapor permeability (WVP), tensile strength measurements and enzymatic digestion. The cross-linking allowed to obtain films with improved mechanical properties and reduced WVP. The high resistance to enzymatic digestion exhibited by these films represents a promising approach to their application in the development of colon drug delivery systems.