Sustained drug release behavior of captopril-incorporated chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose biomaterials for antihypertensive therapy.

Captopril (CTP) is an oral drug widely used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. In this study, CTP-incorporated biomaterials for antihypertensive therapy were synthesized from chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose, and plasticizers. The physicochemical properties of the prepared biomaterials were characterized using FE-SEM, FT-IR analysis, and physical properties. CTP release experiments were carried out in buffer solutions at various pH values and temperatures. Results indicated that above 99.0 % of CTP was released within 180 min. Optimization of the experimental conditions for CTP release was analyzed by using response surface methodology (RSM). Results of CTP release through artificial skin indicated that CTP was continuously released above 95.0 % from the prepared biomaterials for 36.0 h. The CTP release mechanisms into a buffer and through artificial skin followed pseudo-Fickian diffusion mechanism and non-Fickian diffusion mechanisms, respectively. Moreover, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition (related to cardiovascular disease) via the released CTP clearly reveals that the prepared biomaterials have a high potential as a transdermal drug delivery agent in antihypertensive therapy.