Niosome- and liposome-loaded calcium alginate microhydrogels for encapsulation and sustainable release of hydrophilic low molecular weight compounds

Calcium alginate microhydrogels loaded with niosomes and liposomes were used to encapsulate caffeine as a model low molecular weight hydrophilic bioactive compound. To load niosomes and liposomes into alginate hydrogel network and to reduce the size of gel particles the feed solution was electrosprayed into calcium chloride solution. Successive freeze-thaw cycles were employed with a view to slow the release rate of caffeine from niosomes and liposomes. The results showed that niosomes was more efficient in caffeine encapsulation than liposomes. The release profiles confirmed the positive effect of freeze-thaw cycles on sustainable release of caffeine and that the niosome-loaded hydrogels had slower rate of caffeine release. Also, liposomes made of highly pure lecithin revealed more encapsulation efficiency as well as better release profile compared to those of commercial lecithin. Korsmeyer-Peppasmodel was found to appropriately describe the release of caffeine from particles based on Fickian diffusion. The findings of this study clearly demonstrated that niosome- and liposome- loaded microhydrogels could potentially be used to encapsulate food and pharmaceutical compounds for slow release applications. Moreover, electrospraying technique owing to its capability of producing uniform fine particles could be used as an alternative method for hydrogel preparation from natural polymers.