Fabrication and characterization of porous pectin-based aerogels for drug delivery

Aerogels are renowned for their exceptional characteristics such as high porosity and ultra-low density. Among these, pectin aerogels, offering biodegradability, low toxicity, and versatility, are prominent candidates for innovative biomedical materials. This study focused on synthesizing pectin-based aerogels as carriers for ibuprofen and diclofenac sodium. Hydrogels were formed by combining a low methoxy pectin with calcium chloride solution, followed by dehydration and drying using either supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) or freeze–drying. Comparative analysis showed scCO₂-dried aerogels exhibited slightly less shrinkage (0.27 %) than freeze–dried counterparts. Both types showed high porosity and mesoporous characteristics. However, scCO₂-dried aerogels demonstrated higher specific surface area, pore volume, and smaller pore diameter. FTIR spectra indicated no interaction between the drugs and pectin-based aerogels. The loading of ibuprofen in scCO₂-dried, pectin-based aerogels at 90, 95, and 100 bar were 60.0 %, 59.9 %, and 52.1 %, respectively, and the solution loading of diclofenac sodium was 38.37 %. At 90, 95, and 100 bar, ibuprofen-loaded pectin-based aerogels were released at 90.0 %, 84.0 %, and 75.5 %, respectively. The release of diclofenac sodium-loaded, pectin-based aerogels was at 88.4 %. The Korsmeyer–Peppas model was fitted for both ibuprofen and diclofenac sodium, indicating the release is mainly driven by diffusion.