ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses drug-releasing applications of various alginate (ALG)–hydroxyapatitecomposite (HAp) systems. All the reported ALG–HAp composites exhibited sustained drug release behavior with new functionalities. The combination of new approaches using microengineering will be a potent tool in the design and development of drug delivery systems in the near future. ALGs utilized in various biomedical applications including drug delivery, cell and enzyme encapsulations, wound dressings, tissue engineering, dentistry, and so forth, owing to its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. The in vitro drug releasing from these ALG–HAp nanocomposite was found dependent on the reaction temperature as well as reaction time of the synthesis procedure. The drug encapsulation of the calcium ALG–HAp nanocomposite-based beads was improved with the rise in HAp and sodium ALG amounts to these bead formulas. The particle size of calcium ALG–HAp nanocomposite beads of ofloxacin was measured and it was found to have the diameter of 5 mm.
