153
Volume 5, Issue 10: Special Issue
(EJAR)
ISSN: 2181-2020
MPHAPP
THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL
CONFERENCE
“
MODERN PHARMACEUTICS: ACTUAL
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
”
TASHKENT, OCTOBER 17, 2025
in-academy.uz
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SWELLING BEHAVIOR OF POLYMER
PATCHES BASED ON GELLAN GUM AND AGAR-AGAR
Kuldanova A.A.
Akhelova A.L.
Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University,
Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
e-mail: kuldanova03@mail.ru, tel. +7 775 519 2003
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17328551
Relevance:
In recent years, natural polysaccharides have been extensively studied as promising
components for the development of dosage forms with controlled release. Gellan gum, derived from
Sphingomonas elodea
bacteria, and agar-agar, extracted from red algae, are characterized by a high
ability to form gels and stable three-dimensional structures. These properties make them attractive
for use in biocompatible materials intended for drug delivery. The incorporation of chitosan enhances
biocompatibility and adhesive properties, while glutaraldehyde ensures chemical cross-linking and
increases the mechanical strength of the obtained patches. Thus, the investigation of polymer
compositions based on gellan and agar modified with chitosan and glutaraldehyde is of interest for
the development of new materials with prolonged therapeutic action.
Purpose of the Research:
To investigate the swelling behavior of polymer patches based on
gellan gum and agar-agar, modified with chitosan and glutaraldehyde.
Materials and methods
:
To obtain film samples, two natural polysaccharides — gellan gum
and agar-agar — were used. Polymer solutions were prepared in distilled water by heating until
complete dissolution of the components, followed by cooling and casting on a flat surface. Samples
of standard mass were immersed in distilled water and, at predetermined time intervals, were weighed
after removal of surface moisture with filter paper. The swelling degree was calculated as the ratio of
the mass increase of the sample to its initial mass.
Results:
Gellan-based samples (G1, G2) exhibited rapid swelling during the first 40 minutes
but showed reduced stability under prolonged water exposure. Agar-based samples (A3, A4), in
contrast, demonstrated uniform water absorption and high stability against hydration.
Conclusions:
The obtained results confirm that the nature of the initial polysaccharide and the
degree of chemical modification significantly influence the swelling behavior and stability of polymer
patches. Further research will focus on incorporating medicinal extracts into the patch structure and
investigating their release kinetics, which will allow assessing the potential of the developed systems
as carriers for controlled delivery of biologically active substances.
