Hydrogels containing microparticles to controlled delivery of dyes as model compounds

Abstract

The study of microparticles for industry applications is increasingly larger and more comprehensive in several areas, such as textiles, food, pharmaceuticals, among others. Microparticles can be incorporated into hydrogels, producing a system with great potential in drug delivery applications. These systems can still be applied for the co-encapsulation of bioactive compounds, with two compounds being incorporated in the same system, without interaction between them and with independent release. These systems can be produced using biopolymers that, due to their natural origin, offer advantages such as biocompatibility, biodegradability and non-toxicity, in addition to being cheaper when compared to other synthetic materials. Controlled-release systems are extremely important in pharmaceutical applications, as they promote greater efficiency and control over the gradually released concentration. Thus, the objective of this project will be to evaluate the co-encapsulation and release kinetics of dyes used as model compounds in systems formed by biopolymeric microparticles incorporated in hydrogels. The systems will be evaluated according to their microstructure, encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics. (AU)