Preparation of bioactive aerogel material based on sodium alginate and chitosan for controlled release of levomycetin

Abstract This work was aimed at obtaining new highly porous two‐component alginate‐chitosan aerogels for use as a controlled‐release drug delivery system. Aerogel materials were prepared on the basis of the sodium alginate–chitosan interpolymer complex using sol–gel and supercritical fluid technologies. The effect of the ratio of sodium alginate and chitosan on the textural characteristics of aerogels and their water uptake capacity was studied. The obtained materials are characterized by a developed mesoporous structure and a specific surface area of up to 260 m 2 g −1 . It was established that 1 g of alginate‐chitosan aerogel retains up to 35 g of water. The polyelectrolyte nature of the aerogel material, shape stability, high specific surface area, developed mesoporous structure, open cylindrical pore shape, and high water absorption make the alginate/chitosan aerogel material attractive for the purposes of sorption and application therapy. The aerogels can be used as drug delivery system demonstrating prolonged levomycetin release kinetics. The content of released levomycetin from the aerogel matrix within 4 h was up to 95%.