Development and characterization of sodium alginate active films using calcium benzoate as cross-linking agent / Desenvolvimento e caracterização de filmes ativos de alginato de sodio reticulados com benzoato de calcio

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Biodegradable films are produced from natural polymers, structurized mainly by polysaccharides or proteins, and have potential applications in the medical, pharmaceutical or food area. The incorporation of active agents can extend their application as antimicotic packaging, for instance. Films were manufactured with sodium alginate, using calcium chloride as cross-linking agent and glycerol as plasticizer. The use of calcium benzoate as active agent (benzoate ions) and as crosslinking agent (calcium ions) was investigated. Due to the strong gelling power of Ca++ ions, impeding smooth casting procedures, films with low reticulation are initially manufactured, using less than 0.54% Ca++ in the filmogenic solutions (1st stage). These films are further crosslinked with an excess of Ca++ by immersion in a solution of 3% to 7% of CaCl2 (2nd stage). Increasing the glycerol concentration in this solution improves the handling and plasticity of the films but increase water solubility and moisture content and an adequate compromise was obtained using 5% plasticizer. Tests conducted with partial or total substitution of CaCl2 by calcium benzoate indicated that the later could not be used in the 2nd stage solution since it promoted crystals precipitation on film surface. Active films, 0.06mm thick, pre-reticulated with calcium benzoate only and with 0.7% glycerol in the solution of the 1st stage, immersed for 30 minutes in a 3% CaCl2 and 5% glycerol solution (2nd stage) had around 17% moisture content and low water solubility (up to 20% of total dry mass). These films show low swelling degree (<50% of initial mass), good tension strength but low elongation ability. The water vapor permeability is moderate, typical of highly hydrophilic films. Benzoate liberation tests, using pure water as sink, presented good fit to solutions of Fick?s 2nd law and effective diffusivities found varied from 4.2 to 6.3 × 10-7 cm2/s. The diffusivity values decreased with the degree of reticulation and increase with benzoate concentration in the film

ASSUNTO(S)

antimycotics alginates biofilme antimicoticos alginatos biofilms

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