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Preparation and Characterization of Cellulose/Silk Fibroin Composites Microparticles for Drug Controlled-Release Applications
Summary
This paper is not about microplastics; it focuses on developing cellulose and silk fibroin composite microparticles as controlled drug delivery systems, with no relevance to plastic pollution or environmental health.
Microparticles derived from biomaterials are becoming increasingly popular for various applications, particularly in drug delivery systems. In this study, the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsification-diffusion method was used to create cellulose (C), silk fibroin (SF), and C/SF composite microparticles. We then observed the morphology of all obtained microparticles using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), evaluated their functional groups using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and conducted thermogravimetric analysis using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). SEM micrographs indicated that the native SF microparticles have the highest spherical shape with smooth surfaces. With blue dextran, the C microparticle was smaller compared to the native microparticle, while the drug-loaded SF microparticles were bigger than the native microparticle. The morphological surfaces of the C/SF composite microparticles were varied in shape and surface depending on the C/SF ratio used. The spherical shape of the C/SF composite microparticle was increased as SF content increased. Furthermore, the size of drug-loaded C/SF composite microparticles was gradually increased by the SF content. The significant functional groups in the C and SF structures were identified based on the ATR-FTIR data, and a suggestion was made regarding the interaction between the functional groups of each polymer. When compared to both native polymers, the C/SF composite microparticles exhibit improved thermal stability. The C/SF composite microparticle at a 1:3 ratio had the lowest drug release content, whereas the hydrophilicity of the C microparticle affected the highest drug release content. As a result, one crucial factor affecting the medication released from the microparticle is its thermal stability. According to the obtained results, C, SF, and C/SF composite microparticles show promise as delivery systems for drugs with controlled release.
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