An Inquiry-Based Investigation of Controlled-Release Drug Delivery from Hydrogels: An Experiment for High School Chemistry and Biology

• Autores: Joanna L. Sylman, Keith B. Neeves
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 90, Nº 7, 2013, págs. 918-921
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • A laboratory experiment on controlled-release drug delivery systems is presented. The intended audience is high school chemistry and biology students. The exercise is meant to complement curriculum on diffusion, enzyme reactions, and polymerization. In the experiment, students used a gelatin hydrogel as the drug delivery system and food dye as a drug. Bromelain, a protease found in pineapples, was used to mimic the enzyme-rich environment of the human body. Bromelain cleaved the gelatin fibers, thus increasing the rate of release. The release of the food dye from the gelatin was measured by spectrophotometry. Students generated and tested hypotheses regarding the effect of gelatin and enzyme concentrations on release. Students were then asked to analyze the release data and to determine if their conclusions matched their hypotheses. The experiment can be adapted as structured, guided, or open inquiry-based instruction.