MORPHOLOGY STUDY OF PLAI PATCHES BY THE SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE. PART II: CHITOSAN AND POLYVINYL ALCOHOL BLENDS

Abstract

Objective: This work aimed to study of surface morphology of the Plai patch, incorporating the crude Plai oil in polymer blends comprised of chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol using glycerine as plasticizer by SEM method.

Method: We prepared the patch from polymer blends comprised of chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and glycerine by adding the crude Plai oil into this polymer blends solution, and then transferred to dry into hot air oven to produce dark yellow patch which called Plai patch. Then, this Plai patch was studied the in vitro release using Franz cell diffusion apparatus for 24 hours. The Plai patch was removed from equipment and photographed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to study the morphology of this patch after compound D release from patch.

Results: After the release of compound D, the morphology of the Plai patch was visualized by SEM. The morphology of Plai patch made from polymer blends between chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and glycerine had various numbers of pores, suggesting that the compound D release occur mainly this patch surfaces and its might diffused through the matrix pores due to the active compound solubilization in the receptor medium, isotonic phosphate buffer pH 7.4: ethanol = 8:2.

Conclusion: The Plai patch might swell and release the compound D, main active compound in Plai from this patch when the Plai patch absorbed the moisture and fluid from receptor medium. This might contributed the pore in surface of Plai patch.