@article {15817,
	title = {Processing ulvan into 2D structures: cross-linked ulvan membranes as new biomaterials for drug delivery applications},
	journal = {International Journal of Pharmaceutics},
	volume = {426},
	year = {2012},
	month = {2012-04-25 00:00:00},
	pages = {76-81},
	publisher = {Elsevier B. V.},
	abstract = {
The polysaccharide ulvan, composed of sulphated rhamnose, glucoronic and iduronic acids was used to produce polymeric membranes by solvent casting. As ulvan is soluble in water, a cross-linking step was necessary to render the membrane insoluble in water and stable at physiological conditions. Cross-linked ulvan membranes were characterized by FTIR, SEM, swelling behaviour was investigated and the mechanical performance assessed by quasi-static tensile testing. Furthermore, the ability and mechanism of sustained release of a model drug from ulvan membranes was investigated. Produced membranes revealed remarkable ability to uptake water (up to \~{}1800\% of its initial dry weight) and increased mechanical performance (1.76\ MPa) related with cross-linking. On the other hand, medicated ulvan dressings demonstrate the potential as drug delivery devices. Using a model drug we have observed an initial steady release of the drug {\textendash} of nearly 49\% {\textendash} followed by slower and sustained release up to 14 days. The properties of ulvan membranes herein revealed suggest a great potential of this natural sulphated polysaccharide as a wound dressing.
},
	keywords = {membrane, ulvan},
	doi = {doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.01.021},
	url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517312000555},
	author = {Alves, A. and Pinho, E. D. and Neves, N. M. and Sousa, R. A. and Reis, R. L.}
}