Chitosan–sEPDM and Melatonin–Chitosan–sEPDM Composite Membranes for Melatonin Transport and Release
Florentina Mihaela Păncescu,
Abbas Abdul Kadhim Klaif Rikabi,
Ovidiu Cristian Oprea,
Alexandra Raluca Grosu,
Aurelia Cristina Nechifor,
Vlad-Alexandru Grosu,
Szidonia-Katalin Tanczos,
Florina Dumitru,
Gheorghe Nechifor,
Simona Gabriela Bungău
Affiliations
Florentina Mihaela Păncescu
Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Department, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Abbas Abdul Kadhim Klaif Rikabi
Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Department, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Ovidiu Cristian Oprea
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandra Raluca Grosu
Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Department, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Aurelia Cristina Nechifor
Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Department, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Vlad-Alexandru Grosu
Department of Electronic Technology and Reliability, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 061071 Bucharest, Romania
Szidonia-Katalin Tanczos
Department of Bioengineering, University Sapientia of Miercurea-Ciuc, 500104 Miercurea-Ciuc, Romania
Florina Dumitru
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Gheorghe Nechifor
Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Department, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Simona Gabriela Bungău
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410028 Oradea, Romania
Melatonin is the hormone that focuses the attention of the researchers in the medical, pharmaceutical, materials, and membranes fields due to its multiple biomedical implications. The variety of techniques and methods for the controlled release of melatonin is linked to the multitude of applications, among which sports medicine occupies a special place. This paper presents the preparation and characterization of composite membranes based on chitosan (Chi) and sulfonated ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (sEPDM). The membranes were obtained by controlled vacuum evaporation from an 8% sEPDM solution in toluene (w/w), in which chitosan was dispersed in an ultrasonic field (sEPDM:Chi = 1:1, w/w). For the comparative evaluation of the membranes’ performances, a melatonin-chitosan-sulfonated ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (Mel:Chi:sEPDM = 0.5:0.5:1.0, w/w/w) test membrane was made. The prepared membranes were morphologically and structurally characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis (EDAX), thermal analysis (TG, DSC), thermal analysis coupled with chromatography and infrared analysis, and contact angle measurements, but also from the point of view of performance in the process of transport and release of melatonin in dedicated environments (aqueous solutions with controlled pH and salinity). The prepared membranes can release melatonin in amounts between 0.4 mg/cm2·per day (sEPDM), 1.6 mg/ cm2·per day (Chi/sEPDM), and 1.25 mg/cm2·per day (Mel/Chi/SEPDM).
