MUMBAI, India, Nov. 28 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202531111744 A) filed by Subhashree Sahoo, Rourkela, Odisha, on Nov. 15, for 'patent for formulation and characterization of pectin-based hydrogel beads for pharmaceutical application.'
Inventor(s) include Monoranjan Sahu; Ankita Satpathi; Mitali Soren; Subhashree Sahoo; and Prakash Kumar Palai.
The application for the patent was published on Nov. 28, under issue no. 48/2025.
According to the abstract released by the Intellectual Property India: "The present study focuses on the formulation and characterisation of pectin-based hydrogel beads for pharmaceutical applications using an ionotropic gelation technique. Pectin, a natural polysaccharide obtained from plant sources, possesses excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and gelling properties, making it a suitable polymer for hydrogel systems. The primary objective of this work was to explore the potential of pectin in hydrogel bead formation without incorporating any model drug, in order to understand its inherent physicochemical and mechanical characteristics.Pectin hydrogel beads were prepared by crosslinking pectin solution with calcium chloride under optimized conditions. The effects of polymer concentration, crosslinker concentration, and curing time were systematically evaluated. The beads were characterized for particle size, morphology, swelling behaviour, moisture content, and structural integrity. Advanced analytical techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed to confirm crosslinking, thermal stability, and surface morphology.The results indicated that the pectin hydrogel beads were spherical, uniform, and mechanically stable. FTIR and DSC analyses confirmed ionic crosslinking and enhanced thermal stability. The swelling studies demonstrated that the beads exhibited controlled water uptake, influenced by crosslink density. These findings suggest that pectin-based hydrogels can be effectively used as matrices for controlled drug delivery, encapsulation systems, and tissue engineering scaffolds.In conclusion, the developed pectin hydrogel beads present a biocompatible and eco-friendly platform for pharmaceutical applications. Further research may focus on drug incorporation, release kinetics, and scale-up for industrial use."
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