HYDROTROPE-GELLED STARCH - STUDY OF SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

A starch gel has been prepared without heat treatment or chemical modification, using a typical hydrotropic salt (sodium salicylate) as a gelling agent. This gel has the advantage of retaining the marked solubilizing capacity of sodium salicylate. Swelling of dried starch-sodium salicylate gels is affected by the concentration of both starch and sodium salicylate as well as the presence of additives in the swelling medium. Study of the release characteristics of the gel using riboflavin as a model solubilized drug indicated consistent diffusion-controlled kinetics. Drug release is influenced by initial loading levels, starch content of the gel and, to a lesser extent, concentration of the gelling agent. Hydrotrope-gelled starch offers promise as a vehicle for topical drug delivery.