Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) have unique physicochemical properties which make them very interesting for pharmaceutical applications and particularly as drug delivery systems. The aim of this work was to obtain PECs based on the biocompatible and biodegradable biopolymers chitosan and sodium alginate and to apply them as a drug delivery system for sustained release of diclofenac sodium. Three complexes with different ratios between the two polyions were obtained. Their structure and properties were investigated using dynamic light scattering, microscopy methods (optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy), infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction. The drug entrapment efficiency of the various PECs was assessed and the release profiles were monitored. In this way the relationship between the composition of the PECs and the drug release profiles was outlined. The fibrillar form of the chitosan/alginate PECs was demonstrated to exert specific control over the diclofenac release which makes these materials appropriate as vehicles for controlled diclofenac sodium release. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.

中文翻译：

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壳聚糖和海藻酸钠的聚电解质复合物作为双氯芬酸钠的给药系统

聚电解质复合物 (PEC) 具有独特的物理化学性质，这使得它们在药物应用中非常有趣，特别是作为药物输送系统。这项工作的目的是获得基于生物相容性和可生物降解的生物聚合物壳聚糖和海藻酸钠的 PEC，并将它们用作双氯芬酸钠缓释的药物递送系统。获得了两种聚离子之间具有不同比例的三种配合物。使用动态光散射、显微镜方法（光学、扫描和透射电子显微镜）、红外光谱、X 射线衍射来研究它们的结构和性质。评估了各种 PEC 的药物包封效率并监测了释放曲线。通过这种方式，概述了 PEC 的组成与药物释放曲线之间的关系。壳聚糖/藻酸盐 PEC 的纤维形式被证明对双氯芬酸钠的释放具有特定的控制作用，这使得这些材料适合作为控制双氯芬酸钠释放的载体。© 2021 工业化学学会。