Effect of various electrolytes on control release of bio-molluscicides loaded in alginate as crosslinked matrices

Background and Objective: To assess the control release of bio-molluscicides (Crude Ferula asafoetida and their active component ferulic acid) loaded in alginates as binding matrix. Methodology: Sodium alginate, an anionic block copolymer of β-D-mannuronic acid and α-L-guluronic acid, is a readily available, non-toxic polysaccharide its property to form gel with divalent and multivalent cations, make it a very useful binding matrix. Effects of different crosslinkers (calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl2.2H2O), barium chloride dihydrate (BaCl2.2H2O), and aluminium chloride hexahydrate (AlCl3.6H2O)) as well as different loaded concentrations of biomolluscicides on the release were studied. The release of the biomolluscicides extended over 25 and 20 days, respectively. Results: It was found that the release of molluscicides was affected by the crosslinking technique of the matrix film, type of crosslinkers, drug physico-chemical properties especially solubility, the molecular weight, and the amount of loaded concentration of the molluscicides. Comparative study of these three formulations of molluscicide-alginate with CaCl2, BaCl2 and AlCl3 also shows that CaCl2 containing formulations exhibit the highest release of drug. Secondly comes BaCl2 and then AlCl3. Conclusion: These molluscicides (Crude Ferula asafoetida and their active component ferulic acid) are capable of being entrapped as a matrix formulation, with suitable properties and release profile. These matrices are thus suitable for control release formulation.