Materials & Methods

Materials

• 50 mL 2% w/v sodium alginate
• 100 mL 3% w/v calcium chloride
• 100 mL 3% w/v antacid solution
• 50 mL 2% w/v chitosan solution
• 100 mL distilled water
• Syringe with size-22 needle
• Stirring rod
• 50 mL beaker:
• 100 mL beaker, 2
• Filter paper
• Dryer
• Rotary gel die

 

Methods

1. Drip 50 mL of 2% w/v sodium alginate solution dropwise via syringe into 100 mL of 3% w/v calcium chloride solution while simultaneously stirring the mixed solution
2. Filter the mixed solution through filter paper to collect the calcium alginate beads
3. Immerse the wet beads into 3% w/v antacid solution while simultaneously stirring for 20 minutes
4. Filter, wash in distilled water, and dry loaded beads [3]
1. Alternative method replacing steps 1-4
1. Mix 50 mL of 2% w/v sodium alginate solution into 100 mL of 3% w/v calcium chloride solution
2. Filter the mixed solution through filter paper to collect calcium alginate gel
3. Simultaneously run the calcium alginate gel and antacids through the rotary gel die to form loaded beads
4. Dry the loaded beads [4]
5. Quickly dip the antacid-loaded calcium alginate beads into 50 mL 2% w/v chitosan solution to form chitosan alginate polyelectrolyte complex
6. After 1-2 seconds, quickly remove the beads from the chitosan solution, then wash and dry the beads so that the polyelectrolyte complex is only a thin film between chitosan and alginate [5]

Figure 4: Diagram of loaded chitosan alginate beads